Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 15, 2026

HB 1589: Certificates of Birth, Licenses, and Identification Cards - Sex Designation (Birth Certificate Modernization Act)

HB 1589 simplifies how Maryland residents can update the sex designation on their birth certificates and state-issued IDs. It allows individuals (or their guardians for minors/disabled adults) to request a new birth certificate with a changed sex designation by submitting a written request under penalty of perjury, plus a healthcare provider's statement confirming medical treatment for gender transition or an intersex condition. The bill removes the previous requirement for a court order to change sex designation on birth certificates and expands options for indicating sex on driver's licenses and ID cards. This directly affects transgender and intersex Marylanders seeking to align official documents with their gender identity.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare provider statement for gender transition-related ID updates, facilitating access to gender-affirming healthcare services.90% confidence

Track

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 794: Health Insurance - Special Enrollment Period for Pregnancy - Coverage Effective Date

SB 794 creates a special enrollment period for pregnancy in Maryland health insurance. It allows individuals who become pregnant (confirmed by a healthcare provider) to choose whether their coverage starts on the first day of the month they receive pregnancy confirmation or the first day of the following month. If they don’t select a date, the insurance company must choose one of these two options. This applies to both marketplace and non-marketplace health plans and takes effect January 1, 2027. The bill directly affects pregnant individuals and parents enrolling dependents during this 90-day special enrollment period.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates flexible health insurance enrollment for pregnancy, improving access to coverage without waiting for next month's start date.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Women's Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 1094: Health Insurance - Graduate-Level Clinical Interns - Required Reimbursement

HB 1094 requires Maryland health insurers to reimburse individuals for services provided by graduate-level clinical interns in counseling, social work, and psychology under specific conditions. It applies to insureds covered by policies meeting Maryland’s jurisdictional requirements (e.g., issued in-state or covering Maryland residents). Reimbursement is mandated only when interns work under direct supervision of licensed professionals at outpatient facilities and services are billed by the supervising clinician. The bill amends existing insurance codes to ensure coverage for these supervised intern services, directly affecting insurers, interns, and patients seeking mental health care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer reimbursement for mental health intern services, expanding coverage and access to counseling/social work care under supervision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 838: State Board of Pharmacy - Prescriber-Pharmacist Agreements

HB 838 repeals a requirement that prescribers submit prescriber-pharmacist agreements to their regulating health board. Instead, it allows pharmacists (with specific qualifications, registrations, and training) to directly enter agreements authorizing them to treat opioid use disorder using controlled substances. A key provision requires pharmacists to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) for relevant patient data before starting or changing such therapy. This bill directly affects pharmacists, prescribers, and patients with opioid use disorder by expanding pharmacists' role in medication management under defined safeguards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables pharmacists to directly treat opioid use disorder with PDMP checks, expanding access to medication-assisted treatment and improving patient access to critical healthcare services.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs Substance Abuse

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1135: Health Occupations - Pharmacists - Vaccination Orders

HB 1135 allows pharmacists in Maryland to order certain vaccinations for patients aged 3 and older without needing to administer the vaccine themselves. Pharmacists must complete 20+ hours of approved training covering vaccine safety, injection techniques, and emergency response, hold current CPR certification, and report all vaccinations to the ImmuNet program. The bill specifically covers influenza, COVID-19, and emergency-use vaccines, and requires pharmacists to refer minors to pediatric care when ordering vaccines. This expands pharmacists' role in vaccine access while maintaining safety protocols and reporting requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands pharmacist authority to order vaccines for patients 3+, increasing access to public health services and aligning with vaccination coverage goals without physician oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Public Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 14, 2026

HB 975: Health Occupations - Massage Therapy - Advertising

HB 975 prohibits licensed massage therapists, registered massage practitioners, and third parties acting on their behalf from advertising massage services that imply sexual activity, suggest prostitution services, or appear on sites known for such ads. It requires all advertising for massage therapy to include the full name and license or registration number of the specific practitioner. The bill also sets standards for permissible advertising, such as allowing business-level ads without listing individual therapists, and mandates that trade names not be deceptive. These changes directly affect massage therapy practitioners and their marketing practices in Maryland, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits deceptive advertising by licensed massage therapists, requiring license transparency to protect consumers and maintain professional standards in healthcare services.92% confidence

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 11, 2026

HB 1306: Assisted Outpatient Treatment - Surrender or Seizure of Firearms

HB 1306 requires courts to order individuals under court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) to surrender firearms to law enforcement and prohibits firearm possession during the AOT period, if the court determines the person poses a risk of causing physical harm with a firearm. This applies specifically to people already subject to AOT orders under Maryland law, not the general public. Key provisions include mandating court risk assessments, requiring surrender to police (with receipts and storage details), allowing limited transportation of firearms under court orders, and permitting firearm return upon AOT order expiration - unless the person is otherwise barred from firearm ownership. The bill amends Maryland’s health code to integrate these firearm restrictions into existing AOT proceedings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enhances mental health treatment safety by restricting firearm access for high-risk individuals under court-ordered AOT, aligning with mental health service protection.85% confidence

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 10, 2026

HB 1167: Department of Information Technology - Workgroup on the Medicaid Management Information System Mainframe System Replacement

HB 1167 requires Maryland's Department of Health to replace its outdated Medicaid computer system with a modern, flexible system by 2028. The new system must maintain all current Medicaid functions - including processing medical/dental/pharmacy claims, provider enrollment, and beneficiary inquiries - while meeting federal security and performance standards. The bill mandates integration with existing Medicaid systems by January 2027 and full replacement of the old system by January 2028, subject to federal approval. This change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries and healthcare providers through more reliable service delivery.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareUpgrades Medicaid IT system to maintain coverage, ensure claim processing, and meet federal standards - directly supports healthcare service delivery and access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires modern system meeting federal security standards, enhancing cybersecurity for Medicaid operations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1375: Health Insurance - Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Illnesses - Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment

HB 1375 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the full duration of long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses (like babesiosis or ehrlichiosis) when ordered by a licensed physician for therapeutic purposes. It prohibits these entities from imposing caps or time limits on such treatment or denying coverage solely because the treatment is labeled "unproven," "experimental," or "investigational." The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after January 1, 2027. This directly affects patients with chronic Lyme disease or related conditions who rely on extended antibiotic therapy and their insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers cover long-term Lyme disease treatment without caps or denial for 'unproven' labels, expanding patient access and protecting coverage rights per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1012: Public Health - Local Suicide Fatality Review Teams - Authorization

HB 1012 authorizes counties and municipalities in Maryland to establish local suicide fatality review teams, which directly affect local governments and public health agencies. These teams must include representatives from health departments, law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and mental health professionals to review suicide cases and identify systemic factors. The bill requires teams to coordinate with the state suicide review committee and mandates confidentiality for case discussions, exempting meetings about individual cases from public disclosure laws and protecting sensitive information. It also prohibits public disclosure of identifying details about deceased individuals or those affected by suicide, ensuring privacy while allowing teams to develop prevention recommendations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes local suicide review teams including mental health professionals to identify systemic factors, directly supporting mental health service coordination and prevention efforts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health