HB 1414 requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their nursing and residential care revenue on direct care staff wages and benefits, including nurses, dietary workers, and therapists. It also mandates that nursing homes submit detailed annual cost reports by September 1 (starting in 2027) to the Maryland Department of Health, including proof of wage payments and other required data. Failure to comply could lead to enforcement actions such as corrective plans or suspension from the Maryland Medicaid program. The bill directly affects all nursing homes operating in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 493 prohibits nursing facilities in Maryland from involuntarily discharging or transferring residents except for specific reasons like the resident's welfare, health improvement, or facility closure. It requires facilities to provide residents with a clear written notice at least 10 days before any involuntary discharge or transfer, detailing the reason, new location, and contact information for hearings and legal assistance. The bill also bans sending residents to temporary housing (like hotels) without confirmation from the receiving facility and prevents facilities from discharging Medicaid-eligible residents solely because they qualify for Medicaid. These changes aim to protect vulnerable residents by ensuring proper notice, preventing unfair treatment, and requiring confirmation before transfers.
HB 278, the "Longevity Ready Maryland Act," requires Maryland's Secretary of Aging to lead implementation of the Longevity Ready Maryland Plan. This plan aims to coordinate state services for older adults by evaluating their needs, assessing existing programs, and fostering cross-sector collaboration across health, housing, employment, and social services. The bill mandates annual reports to the governor and legislature on progress, updates the Commission on Aging's role, and requires a comprehensive statewide plan to be revised every four years. It directly affects older Marylanders, the Department of Aging, local area agencies on aging, and state agencies responsible for aging-related services.
HB 442 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives in Maryland to disclose their professional liability insurance status to residents and potential residents. Specifically, these providers must provide written notice (including electronic communication) if they lack coverage or if coverage has lapsed and not been renewed, with timing requirements: at the first visit for potential residents or at application for admission, and within 30 days of a lapse for current residents. The bill also mandates that facilities without coverage post a conspicuous notice for residents and guests. This law does not change insurance requirements but ensures transparency about coverage gaps. It directly affects residents and potential residents of these care facilities by providing clear, timely disclosure of insurance status.
SB 240 establishes the Office of Health Care Quality Stakeholder Advisory Council to provide feedback to Maryland's Office of Health Care Quality about oversight of health care facilities and to notify the Secretary of Health if the Office is negligent in its oversight duties. The council, composed of 18 members including legislators, agency representatives, frontline health workers, nursing home residents, advocacy groups, and industry stakeholders, must hold biannual public meetings with live streaming and public comment opportunities starting in 2027. It will review data on facility inspections, complaints, and response times from the Office, compile feedback into summary reports, and develop recommendations to improve care quality. The council must annually report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Maryland General Assembly beginning in 2027.
HB 628 establishes a program providing $1,000 monthly payments for three years to young adults who were in out-of-home care (like foster care) on their 18th birthday, with birthdays on or after October 1, 2026. Payments cannot be counted as income for Medicaid, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, or state/federal financial aid for education. The Department of Human Services must report annually on participants' income, location, employment, and housing status starting October 2027. The program will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031, with automatic termination after that date.
HB 671 requires Maryland's Governor to allocate at least 3% of funds collected from a Medicaid quality assessment on qualifying nursing facilities (45+ beds operating in the state) to fund the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman starting in fiscal year 2027. This directly affects nursing facilities that pay the assessment and ensures dedicated, supplemental funding for the Ombudsman office, which advocates for residents' rights in long-term care settings. The bill updates existing law to mandate this specific allocation from the assessment pool, specifying that these funds must be "in addition to" and not replace existing Ombudsman funding. It does not change the assessment rate (capped at 6% of facility revenue) or the reporting requirements for the Department.
SB 293 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and nurse midwives to notify residents and prospective residents in writing if they lack professional liability insurance or if coverage has lapsed without renewal. For prospective residents, notification must occur at the first visit during a coverage gap or at the time of application; current residents must be notified within 30 days of a lapse. Facilities without coverage must also post a conspicuous notice visible to residents and guests. This law aims to increase transparency about insurance coverage for individuals receiving care in these settings.
HB 489 repeals a Maryland law that previously prohibited electronic health networks and medical record vendors serving nursing homes from charging fees for releasing patient records. The bill allows these vendors to charge fees when releasing records or electronic health transactions to nursing homes' business associates, as directed by the nursing home. Key provisions require vendors to provide records in standardized electronic formats and ensure timely access for patient care, but no longer ban fee-charging for these releases. This change affects nursing homes, their business associates, and the vendors managing their electronic health records, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 340 requires the Governor to allocate at least 3% of funds collected from nursing facilities' Medicaid quality assessments toward the Office of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman's operations in the state budget. It directly affects nursing facilities with 45 or more beds operating in Maryland, which must pay the quality assessment. The bill mandates that these funds - collected quarterly based on non-Medicare patient days - must be used solely for the Ombudsman office, with no reduction to existing funding for this purpose. This creates a dedicated, ongoing funding source to support the Ombudsman's role in investigating resident complaints and advocating for long-term care rights.
