Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · Maryland · Senate May 26, 2026

SB 891: Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations - Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions

SB 891 requires health insurance companies in Maryland to provide pregnant individuals and those up to one year postpartum with a standing referral to a mental health provider without needing a new authorization each time. It also mandates coverage for perinatal mental health screenings during pregnancy and postpartum, and directs the Maryland Department of Health to create a screening program. Additionally, the bill requires health professionals renewing licenses to complete continuing education on perinatal mental health conditions. These provisions directly affect insurers, pregnant/postpartum individuals, mental health providers, and health license holders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for perinatal mental health screenings and standing referrals, improving access to mental health services for pregnant/postpartum individuals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 25, 2026

SB 774: Health Insurance - Plan Benefits and Coverage - Annual Reporting (Transparency, Reporting, Understanding, Timeliness, and Honesty (TRUTH) in Mental Health Coverage Act)

SB 774, the "TRUTH in Mental Health Coverage Act," requires Maryland health insurance carriers to annually report detailed claims data on mental health and substance use coverage starting in 2028. This affects all insurers offering health benefit plans in Maryland, mandating they submit standardized data on access, network availability, and coverage for services like outpatient care, telehealth, and youth/adult services. The report must include breakdowns by facility type, provider specialty, service format, and geographic area. The Maryland Insurance Commissioner will make this data publicly available through a website and interactive dashboards to improve transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency in mental health coverage reporting to improve patient access and accountability, aligning with indicators for strengthening mental health services and protecting patient rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Telehealth

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 772: Behavioral Health Rate Methodology Modernization - Workgroup Establishment and Study

HB 772 establishes a workgroup within Maryland's Health Care Commission to develop fairer reimbursement methods for certified community behavioral health clinics and outpatient mental health centers. The workgroup will study current costs, staffing models, and federal requirements to create transparent, cost-based payment systems, comparing approaches used in other states. It must submit an interim report by December 2026 and a final report by October 2027 with specific recommendations, implementation options, and fiscal estimates. The bill does not require immediate rate changes or new funding, but rather sets a process for future policy decisions based on the workgroup's findings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes workgroup to develop fairer reimbursement for mental health centers, aiming to improve payment systems and support behavioral health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 702: Behavioral Health Administration - Behavioral Health Program Relocation - Regulations

SB 702 streamlines the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs in Maryland. It requires the Behavioral Health Administration to adopt regulations creating an expedited approval path separate from new program applications. Key provisions include allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, granting temporary approval at new sites meeting life safety standards, and mandating clear timelines for relocations. This directly affects current behavioral health programs seeking to move locations without restarting full licensing. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines behavioral health program relocations, improving access to mental health services through expedited approvals and reduced bureaucratic delays.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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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 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

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 808: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Step Therapy, Fail-First Protocols, and Prior Authorization - Prescription Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits prior authorization for mental health meds, ensuring direct coverage without barriers for 5 serious conditions, improving patient access to essential treatments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 522: Workers' Compensation - Evaluation of Permanent Impairments - Licensed Social Worker-Clinical

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health evaluation access in workers' comp by allowing licensed social workers, improving patient access to mental health services within healthcare system.92% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands workers' compensation evaluation access to licensed social workers for mental health impairments, improving claim processing and benefits accessibility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Workers' Compensation

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 24, 2026

HB 860: Petitions for Emergency Evaluation (Arnaud and Magruder Memorial Act)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transport to emergency facilities for valid petitions, improving access to mental health evaluations under emergency protocols.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1487: Public Health – Baltimore City Mobile Infant and Maternal Health Pilot Program

HB 1487 establishes the "MomMobile" pilot program within Maryland’s Department of Health to deliver mobile postpartum care in Baltimore City. It directly affects residents in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods by providing on-site checkups, mental health screenings, and culturally competent care from midwives and doulas via mobile health units. The bill requires the Secretary to collaborate with Baltimore City Health Department to determine operating neighborhoods, funding partnerships, staffing, and evaluation metrics. Annual reports on program implementation must be submitted to the Governor and legislative committees starting in 2027. The program aims to reduce transportation barriers, improve visit attendance, and identify metrics for maternal health outcomes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes mobile maternal/infant health program with mental health screenings and culturally competent care in underserved Baltimore neighborhoods, expanding access to public health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Public Health Women's Health

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