HB 27 creates a Maryland Long COVID Research Fund administered by the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to provide grants and loans for Long COVID innovation. The program directly supports Maryland-based public and private entities conducting research, product development, and manufacturing related to Long COVID treatments, using the National Academy of Sciences' 2024 definition of Long COVID. Key mechanisms include establishing a nonlapsing fund (funded by state appropriations and interest earnings), requiring an independent scientific review committee to evaluate proposals, and mandating annual reports on funded projects and program effectiveness. The bill specifies that funds may only be used for research, development, and commercialization of Long COVID treatments, with strict oversight to ensure alignment with scientific and medical goals. It takes effect July 1, 2026.
SB 412 establishes Maryland’s Community Forensic Aftercare Program within the Maryland Department of Health. The program monitors two groups: individuals committed to the health department due to being "not criminally responsible" (often called "not guilty by reason of insanity" cases), and people with mental illness or intellectual disability requiring community monitoring under specific legal circumstances. Key mechanisms include creating a community monitoring board to decide on conditional release and out-of-state travel, and requiring licensed social workers ("Program Monitors") to track compliance with court orders and make health recommendations. The bill amends Maryland’s Criminal Procedure and Health codes to implement this program, focusing on safety and structured oversight for these individuals.
HB 715 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund as a special, nonlapsing state fund to address harms linked to social media algorithms affecting children. The fund is financed by civil penalties from settlements/judgments about social media-related harm to youth, state budget appropriations, and interest earnings. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to use these resources exclusively for evidence-based prevention, intervention, and treatment services - including school education programs on digital literacy, mental health support for issues like depression and anxiety, and research - prioritizing youth mental health outcomes. The fund cannot replace existing state funding for these services.
SB 380 creates a temporary license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Maryland under specific conditions. It allows physicians licensed outside the U.S., Canada, or Puerto Rico to obtain a license if they meet strict requirements, including a WHO-recognized medical degree, 2+ years of equivalent residency training, 5 years of practice in their home country, passing U.S. medical exams (USMLE), and English language proficiency. The license is valid for up to 3 years, cannot be renewed, and expires October 1, 2028. This pathway does not grant full licensure, and physicians must meet all 12 criteria listed in Section (B) to qualify.
SB 205 codifies federal mental health parity requirements into Maryland law, requiring health insurance carriers to comply with the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity Act. It mandates carriers to collect and report data on access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits, explain differences in care access, and undergo comparative analyses of nonquantitative treatment limitations. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner gains authority to review carrier reports and address noncompliance. This bill directly affects all health insurance carriers operating in Maryland, ensuring their coverage aligns with federal parity standards for mental health and substance use disorder benefits. It clarifies enforcement mechanisms without creating new benefit requirements.
HB 316 updates Maryland's definition of "medical record" to require healthcare providers to record certain patient information through official channels (written, electronic, or audio/video means) instead of entering it directly into the patient's personal record. It explicitly adds electronic messages (like texts or emails) that identify a patient to the protected definition of medical records. This affects healthcare providers who must now document specific communications in designated formats, ensuring digital patient interactions receive the same confidentiality protections as traditional medical records. The change takes effect October 1, 2026.
SB 490 prohibits Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) from requiring prior authorization or step therapy protocols for prescription drugs treating specific serious mental illnesses. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, PTSD, or medication-induced movement disorders linked to mental illness treatment. The law, effective July 1, 2026, removes barriers that previously forced doctors to seek approval before prescribing these medications or require trying less effective treatments first. The policy change applies only to these five conditions and expires automatically on June 30, 2029.
SB 39 establishes a workgroup to develop a sustainable reimbursement rate methodology for Maryland's Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and Outpatient Mental Health Centers (OMHCs), directly affecting behavioral health providers facing financial strain due to outdated rates. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to conduct a cost study of OMHC services, form an advisory panel to review rate recommendations, and increase Medicaid reimbursement rates for OMHCs in fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Key provisions include evaluating provider costs, workforce needs, and alignment with somatic health care parity, while addressing closures like those in Frederick County. The workgroup must report findings by December 2027, aiming to stabilize provider finances and ensure continued access to community mental health care.
HB 598 creates a temporary license for internationally trained physicians to practice medicine in Maryland under specific conditions. It allows the State Board of Physicians to issue a 3-year license (non-renewable) to doctors who hold a WHO-recognized medical degree outside the U.S., completed 2 years of equivalent postgraduate training, practiced medicine for 5 of the last 7 years abroad, passed U.S. medical exams (USMLE Steps 1-3), and meet other criteria like English proficiency and Maryland residency. The license requires physicians to pursue full licensure through board-established pathways after the temporary period ends. This directly affects internationally trained doctors seeking to work in Maryland’s healthcare system, providing a structured but limited pathway to practice.
HB 32 requires all local law enforcement vehicles in Maryland to carry an automated external defibrillator (AED), a medical device that automatically analyzes heart rhythms and delivers shocks if needed. Local law enforcement agencies must also maintain the AEDs' functionality to ensure they work when required. The bill applies to all local police departments and agencies operating vehicles used for law enforcement. It takes effect October 1, 2026, mandating this equipment without specifying additional funding or enforcement details.
