SB 563 adds crisis pregnancy clinics to Maryland’s definition of "health care provider" under confidentiality laws. This means these clinics must now follow the same medical record privacy rules as hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. The bill specifically covers clinics providing pregnancy-related care, including mobile facilities, even if they’re not subject to federal HIPAA rules. It applies directly to crisis pregnancy clinics operating in Maryland, requiring them to protect patient records like other healthcare providers. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.
HB 1540 repeals the 2028 termination date for annual state funding required for the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. The bill ensures the state will continue appropriating $10 million each fiscal year (previously set to end in 2028) to support the center's operations and transition. This directly affects the University of Maryland Medical System Corporation and Prince George's County, which must provide matching funds totaling $208 million for capital construction. The funding is specifically designated to maintain the medical center's financial viability, improve healthcare access, and prevent operating losses. The change removes the fixed end date, making the funding permanent unless future legislation alters it.
HB 808 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy/fail-first protocols for prescription drugs treating five specific serious mental health conditions: bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to mental illness treatment. Starting July 1, 2026, the program must cover these medications without extra approval steps for adult enrollees diagnosed with these conditions. The law applies only to Medicaid-covered drugs for these diagnoses and expires on June 30, 2029. This directly affects Medicaid enrollees with these diagnoses by reducing administrative barriers to accessing prescribed mental health medications.
HB 1002 prohibits nursing facilities from involuntarily discharging or transferring residents to temporary housing (like hotels) without confirmation from the receiving facility that it can accept the resident. It requires facilities to provide residents with clear written notices at least 10 days before a discharge or transfer, including the reason, new location, and contact information for hearings. The bill also bans facilities from discharging Medicaid-eligible residents solely because they qualify for Medicaid benefits, and mandates that post-discharge plans include specific care details. These changes aim to protect residents' rights and ensure smoother transitions during involuntary moves.
This bill allows licensed clinical social workers to evaluate permanent impairments related to behavioral or mental disorders in workers' compensation claims, expanding beyond current requirements that limited this role to psychologists or physicians. To qualify, social workers must meet specific training standards in mental health conditions, hold rehabilitation counselor registration, have two years of relevant experience, and be authorized providers. It directly affects workers seeking compensation for mental health-related impairments and the social workers providing these evaluations. The law amends Maryland's workers' compensation code to include these requirements, effective October 1, 2026.
SB 742, the "Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act," modifies Maryland’s Medicaid eligibility processes to better protect individuals with disabilities who receive home- and community-based services. It extends the appeal timeframe for those losing eligibility and requires services to continue uninterrupted during appeals, preventing administrative errors from causing abrupt service loss. The bill prohibits "procedural disenrollment" (terminating coverage due to renewal process issues) and mandates the Department of Health to reserve waiver slots for people who lost eligibility unfairly. These changes align with the Olmstead decision, ensuring individuals can remain in community settings without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers. The bill directly affects Maryland Medicaid recipients with disabilities who rely on home- and community-based services.
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HB 1251, the Edna G. Neal Palliative Care Act, requires Maryland hospitals, nursing homes, and hospice facilities to provide patients with access to palliative care programs and inform them about these services at key points like diagnosis and hospital admission, starting October 1, 2027. It also mandates that health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations cover specific palliative care services - including pain management, counseling, and family support - without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles, and prohibits denial of coverage for patients receiving concurrent curative treatment. The bill affects all covered health facilities and insurers operating in Maryland, ensuring equitable access to palliative care for patients with serious illnesses like cancer or heart disease. Annual reports on palliative care access and quality will be required starting in 2028.
This Maryland bill (HB 1126) prevents health insurers and managed care plans from restricting patients' choice of laboratories. It requires insurers to allow patients to select any participating lab without limitations, prohibits denying labs participation if they agree to plan terms (like service standards and reimbursement rates), and bans extra fees for lab services that other patients don't pay. The law applies to all health benefit plans covering laboratory services in Maryland and takes effect October 1, 2026. It directly affects insurers, participating labs, and patients seeking lab services.
HB 860, the Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act, sets a 5-day initial limit for emergency evaluation petitions after court approval, with extensions of up to 5 days each (totaling no more than 30 days) based on the individual's current behavior. The bill requires courts to include the petition's expiration date and clarifies that peace officers must transport individuals to emergency facilities when holding a valid petition (either court-endorsed within 5 days or signed by authorized professionals), allowing electronic petitions. This law directly affects courts reviewing petitions, peace officers executing them, emergency facilities receiving individuals, and people subject to emergency evaluations. It standardizes timelines and procedures to ensure timely care while preventing prolonged detention without court review.
SB 795 establishes new regulations for vision insurance benefits in Maryland. It requires insurers and vision benefit managers to publicly disclose specific information on their websites, including their legal details, regulatory oversight, and contact information. The bill sets standards for contracts between these companies and eye care providers (like optometrists and ophthalmologists), including rules for reimbursement rates, provider inclusion procedures, and prohibitions on certain restrictive contract terms. These changes directly affect vision benefit plan providers, eye care professionals, and enrollees who use vision insurance coverage. The law creates a new regulatory framework under Maryland’s Insurance Article to standardize vision benefit offerings and transparency.
