Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 377: Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners

HB 377 expands the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) in Maryland by adding them to specific healthcare roles that previously required physicians or other practitioners. The bill allows PAs to certify incapacity for treatment decisions, participate in guardianship petitions for disabled persons, and order infirmary care for pregnant inmates - previously limited to physicians or nurse practitioners. It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to cover PA examinations for emergency evaluees and adds PAs to the Statewide Advisory Commission on Immunization. These changes aim to create parity by treating PAs as equivalent to other licensed healthcare providers in key clinical and administrative processes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands PA scope to certify incapacity, guardianship, and infirmary care, increasing healthcare access without physician oversight95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 14, 2026

SB 196: Correctional Services - Medication Review Committee - Administration of Psychotropic Medication to an Incarcerated Individual

SB 196 establishes a medication review committee within Maryland's state correctional facilities' licensed mental health infirmaries to decide whether to approve administering psychotropic medication to an incarcerated person who refuses it, except in emergencies. The committee must review medical records, consider alternatives, and ensure the inmate's rights - including attending meetings, understanding treatment risks, and receiving a lay advisor - are protected before approving non-emergency medication. It requires staff to document treatment history and less intrusive alternatives before seeking committee approval, and mandates the committee determine if medication is necessary to prevent substantial risk of self-harm or dangerous behavior. This bill directly affects inmates in mental health infirmaries and sets new procedural safeguards for medication decisions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill establishes committee to protect inmate rights regarding psychotropic medication, ensuring due process and medical alternatives in corrections, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice reform.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes committee to protect inmate rights in psychotropic medication decisions, ensuring medical review and patient rights in mental health treatment within correctional facilities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Jan 29, 2026

HB 551: Criminal Law - Drug Paraphernalia and Controlled Paraphernalia Prohibitions - Repeal

HB 551 repeals specific sections of Maryland's Criminal Law that prohibited certain drug paraphernalia and controlled paraphernalia. It removes prohibitions related to items like syringes, packaging materials, and cutting agents used with controlled substances (excluding cannabis). The bill directly affects individuals who might possess these items under current law, as the repeal eliminates criminal penalties for such possession. This change modifies Maryland's legal definitions and prohibitions regarding drug paraphernalia by deleting the referenced sections from the Annotated Code.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRepeals criminal penalties for drug paraphernalia possession, reducing unnecessary criminalization and aligning with criminal justice reform principles by removing prohibitions on items like syringes.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals criminal prohibitions on syringes and drug paraphernalia, enabling harm reduction programs that improve public health access and reduce disease transmission among people who use drugs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 20, 2026

SB 268: Correctional Services – Restrictive Housing – Individuals With Developmental or Intellectual Disabilities

SB 268 requires clinical professionals (licensed mental health providers) to assess new inmates at Maryland state correctional facilities for developmental or intellectual disabilities during intake. If assessed, facilities must limit restrictive housing (locked in a cell for 22+ hours daily) to 15 consecutive days within any 30-day period for these individuals, unless they commit a prohibited act like causing serious injury, making credible threats with prior violence, or possessing weapons. The bill excludes medical isolation, suicide watch, and self-requested protective custody from the restrictive housing definition. It applies only to Maryland state correctional facilities and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts solitary confinement for disabled inmates, aligning with civil rights protections and reform goals in corrections.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates mental health assessments for inmates with disabilities and limits restrictive housing, protecting vulnerable individuals' mental health care access in correctional facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

Track

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 23, 2026

HB 158: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Maternal Health Monitoring Pilot Program

HB 158 establishes a two-year pilot program within Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (MAP) to support pregnant and postpartum MAP recipients diagnosed with maternal hypertension (high blood pressure during pregnancy) or maternal diabetes. The program provides remote patient monitoring using FDA-approved technology (tracking blood pressure, glucose, weight) and clinical support from licensed nurses, dietitians, and diabetes specialists via participating managed care organizations. It allocates up to $600,000 for the pilot, requiring participating organizations to contract with technology vendors, train participants, and implement escalation pathways for urgent health concerns. The program aims to improve maternal and infant outcomes for high-risk participants, with findings reported to the legislature by 2028.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes pilot program expanding maternal health monitoring via remote tech and clinical support within MAP, enhancing access to specialized care for high-risk patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 470: State Board of Physicians - Naturopathic Doctors - Scope of Practice, Renewals, and Professional Liability Insurance

SB 470 modifies regulations for naturopathic doctors in Maryland. It expands their scope of practice to allow prescribing certain controlled dangerous substances (previously restricted), renames the Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council to focus specifically on controlled substances, and requires naturopathic doctors to report professional liability insurance details to the State Board of Physicians. The bill also updates license renewal requirements, adds new patient notification rules about insurance, and changes disciplinary grounds. These changes directly affect licensed naturopathic doctors practicing in Maryland under the State Board of Physicians.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands naturopathic doctors' prescribing authority for controlled substances, increasing patient access to alternative healthcare services within regulated scope.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

Track

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 599: Health - Licensure of Hospitals - Ownership Requirements

HB 599 requires hospitals seeking a new license or undergoing ownership changes after October 1, 2026, to be federally recognized nonprofit organizations registered with the state. Specifically, it mandates that hospitals qualifying for licensure on or after that date must operate as nonprofits under federal law and maintain that status as a condition of their license. The bill also prohibits transferring ownership of any licensed hospital after October 1, 2026, to any entity other than another nonprofit organization. This directly affects hospitals seeking new licenses, renewing licenses, or changing ownership in Maryland after the effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates nonprofit hospital ownership to prioritize community care over profit, aligning with protecting patient access and preventing profit-driven service cuts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medical Licensing

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 392: Maryland Technology Development Corporation - Long COVID Innovation Grant and Loan Program

SB 392 requires Maryland's Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to create a grant and loan program funding research, product development, and manufacturing for Long COVID treatments. The program establishes the Maryland Long COVID Research Fund (a permanent, nonlapsing fund) and mandates MTDC to contract with an independent scientific review committee to evaluate and recommend funding for proposals. It directly affects public and private entities in Maryland conducting Long COVID research, requiring them to meet criteria set by MTDC for review and oversight. The bill defines Long COVID using the National Academy of Sciences' 2024 standard and ensures funds support treatment innovation through structured application and progress reviews.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSB 392 establishes a permanent fund and grants/loans for Long COVID treatment research, directly advancing healthcare innovation and treatment development through public funding.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds technology development (research, product development) via MTDC, directly advancing tech applications for Long COVID treatments, aligning with funding indicator.90% confidence

Track

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 684: Health Insurance - Material Changes to Provider Networks - Notification and Special Enrollment Period

HB 684 requires health insurance companies to notify members 60 days in advance if a provider (including primary care or behavioral health providers) is removed from their network, unless termination relates to fraud, abuse, or licensure issues. It mandates that members affected by such changes receive a 90-day special enrollment period to continue seeing those providers, along with clear contact information for filing complaints. Insurance companies must also notify the Maryland Insurance Commissioner about network changes at least 60 days before termination and update their access plans within 5 business days of the change. This bill directly affects health insurance members who lose provider access and requires insurers to follow specific transparency and transition procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to notify members 60 days before provider removal and provides 90-day special enrollment period, protecting patient access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medical Licensing Mental Health

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 347: Workers' Compensation - Occupational Disease Presumptions - Hypertension

HB 347 adds hypertension to the list of occupational diseases presumed work-related for specific emergency responders in Maryland. It creates a legal presumption that firefighters, firefighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal staff with hypertension are entitled to workers' compensation benefits if they meet four conditions: diagnosed by a provider, prescribed hypertension medication for 90+ consecutive days, completed 2+ years of cumulative service in the state, and are currently employed in that role. This bill modifies Maryland’s workers’ compensation law (specifically Sections 9-502 and 9-503) to expand eligibility for these occupations without requiring separate proof that hypertension resulted from their job duties. It directly affects these emergency personnel seeking compensation for hypertension-related disability or death.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds hypertension to occupational disease presumptions for emergency responders, ensuring automatic workers' comp access for hypertension treatment, expanding healthcare coverage access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds hypertension to occupational disease presumptions for emergency responders, creating legal presumption for workers' comp benefits and easing burden of proof for covered conditions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Workers' Compensation