Healthcare (Medicaid)

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 16, 2026

HB 1450: Health Insurance - Coordination of Benefits - Carrier Responsibilities and Retroactive Denials of Reimbursement

HB 1450 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to coordinate payments when multiple insurers cover a single claim. Specifically, carriers must identify primary and secondary payors, calculate each payor’s share, and ensure combined payments do not exceed 100% of the claim amount. The bill also limits how long carriers can retroactively deny reimbursement: up to 9 months for other insurers, 18 months for Medicaid or Medicare, and 6 months in other cases, with written explanations required for denials. This directly affects health insurance companies and health care providers who receive payments, aiming to streamline billing and prevent overpayment disputes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents retroactive insurance denials beyond set periods, ensuring timely reimbursement and protecting patient rights against unfair billing practices.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 16, 2026

HB 71: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program Services - Reimbursement (Youth Psychiatric Rehabilitation Parity Act of 2026)

HB 71 (Youth Psychiatric Rehabilitation Parity Act of 2026) requires Maryland's Medicaid program to reimburse psychiatric rehabilitation providers for 6-30 community-based mental health support services per month for specific youth. It directly affects Medicaid-covered individuals under 21 with a persistent mental disorder causing severely impaired functioning, who live with a legally responsible parent, guardian, or relative. The law mandates the Maryland Department of Health to adopt these reimbursement rules by December 2026, effective June 2026. This creates standardized billing requirements for youth mental health services, ensuring consistent coverage for qualifying cases without expanding eligibility.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid reimbursement for youth mental health services, expanding coverage and support for psychiatric rehabilitation under Medicaid.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 14, 2026

SB 134: Medicare Supplement Policies - Issuance - Requirements

SB 134 requires Maryland insurance carriers to issue Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) to specific eligible individuals without denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on health status. It directly affects: (1) people transitioning from Maryland Medicaid to Medicare Part B, (2) individuals who became Medicare-eligible before January 2020, and (3) disabled people under 65 who qualify for Medicare. Key provisions mandate that carriers must sell these policies during defined 63-day enrollment periods following Medicaid disenrollment or qualifying events, and prohibit health-based pricing or denial for plans A and D. The law also requires carriers to offer comparable or lower-benefit plans during birthday renewals starting July 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to issue Medigap without health-based denial or premium hikes, expanding coverage access for vulnerable Medicare-eligible groups transitioning from Medicaid or with disabilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Medicare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 6: Public Institutions of Higher Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan and Reporting

HB 6 requires Maryland's public colleges and universities to collect and report data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, guardians, or caregivers of children. Public institutions must adopt a plan by October 2026 that provides referrals to government assistance programs (like WIC, child care scholarships, and Medicaid), campus accommodations, and health services for pregnant and parenting students. The Maryland Higher Education Commission will collect this data annually starting in 2027 and submit reports to legislative committees. This bill directly affects all students enrolled at Maryland's public higher education institutions (including University System schools, Morgan State, and St. Mary’s College) who are pregnant or parenting.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates data collection and support plans for pregnant/parenting students, including referrals to childcare, health services, and campus accommodations to enhance educational access and retention at public colleges.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates referrals to Medicaid and health services for pregnant/student parents, improving access to healthcare programs and aligning with support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Medicaid

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 276: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Orthoses and Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

SB 276, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland’s Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (custom braces or supports for musculoskeletal conditions) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates coverage for the devices themselves, components, repairs, and replacements without lifetime limits if a treating provider deems them medically necessary for daily living or work activities. Insurers must follow Medicare’s medical necessity standards and cannot impose higher copays or separate annual dollar limits for this coverage. The bill directly affects Medicaid enrollees and private insurance plan members needing orthotic devices, ensuring broader access to these essential medical supports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid and insurers to cover orthoses/prostheses without lifetime limits, expanding access to essential medical devices for daily living and work activities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Medicare

died · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 9, 2026

HB 440: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities - Provider Reimbursement

HB 440 requires Maryland's Department of Health to create a new reimbursement system for Medicaid providers serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The system would allow higher payment rates for qualifying services, include recurring adjustments to support provider access and service quality, and prioritize rate increases for services needing extra time, communication support, or specialized training. However, the bill only takes effect if federal funds become available by December 31, 2036, under the Health Equity for Adults with Disabilities Act or similar programs; otherwise, it becomes void. If federal funding is secured, the new reimbursement structure would begin on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid reimbursement rates for IDD providers, improving access to services and prioritizing specialized care through higher payment rates and recurring adjustments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 445: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage for Orthoses and Prostheses (So Every Body Can Move Act)

HB 445, the "So Every Body Can Move Act," requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and private health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover orthoses (supportive devices like braces) starting January 1, 2027. It mandates annual coverage for orthoses, including repairs, replacements, and components, without lifetime dollar limits or higher copays than other medical benefits. The bill clarifies that coverage must include all orthoses deemed medically necessary by a provider for daily living or essential job activities. It directly affects Maryland residents enrolled in Medicaid or private health plans covering hospital/medical benefits, ensuring access to these devices without restrictive lifetime limits or unnecessary barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid and private insurers to cover orthoses without lifetime limits or higher copays, expanding access to medically necessary devices.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Medicaid

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 140: Criminal Law - Benefits Exploitation

SB 140 prohibits individuals from knowingly recruiting, harboring, transporting, or obtaining another person specifically to appropriate their government benefits for personal gain or another's benefit. It directly affects vulnerable populations receiving benefits like Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security, or veterans' aid, and targets those exploiting them through coercion (e.g., threats, financial control) or deception. The law defines "exploitation" as illegally using benefits via undue influence, false promises, or isolation, and bans profiting from such exploitation or aiding violations. Violations are felonies punishable by up to 25 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both, with each violation treated as a separate offense.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill creates criminal offense to protect vulnerable beneficiaries from exploitation of government benefits, advancing criminal justice reform by safeguarding civil rights and preventing fraud against Medicare/Medicaid/SNAP recipients.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects Medicare/Medicaid benefits from exploitation, safeguarding vulnerable populations' access to healthcare coverage and preventing misuse of public health programs.85% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransBill explicitly protects veterans' aid from exploitation by prohibiting illegal appropriation of government benefits, directly safeguarding veterans' access to benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Human Trafficking Medicaid Medicare

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 420: Public Institutions of Higher Education - Pregnant and Parenting Students - Plan and Reporting

SB 420 requires all public institutions of higher education in Maryland (excluding specific exceptions like University of Maryland Global Campus) to collect demographic data on students' parental status, including whether they are parents, legal guardians, or have caregiving responsibilities. It mandates these institutions to adopt a formal support plan for pregnant and parenting students, including referrals to government assistance programs like WIC, child care scholarships, Medicaid, and parenting resources. The Maryland Higher Education Commission must collect this data annually, compile it into reports, and submit summaries to legislative committees starting September 1, 2027. This bill directly affects pregnant and parenting students by requiring colleges to provide structured support services and track demographic needs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates support plans for pregnant parenting students at public colleges, including referrals to childcare and assistance programs, enhancing educational access and support for this demographic.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRefers students to Medicaid/WIC, directly improving healthcare access for pregnant/parenting students through institutional support plans.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Medicaid

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 490: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Step Therapy, Fail-First Protocols, and Prior Authorization - Prescription Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves prior authorization barriers for mental health drugs in Medicaid, improving access to treatment for serious conditions like schizophrenia and PTSD.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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