Healthcare (Insurance)

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

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1375: Health Insurance - Lyme Disease and Related Tick-Borne Illnesses - Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment

HB 1375 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the full duration of long-term antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and related tick-borne illnesses (like babesiosis or ehrlichiosis) when ordered by a licensed physician for therapeutic purposes. It prohibits these entities from imposing caps or time limits on such treatment or denying coverage solely because the treatment is labeled "unproven," "experimental," or "investigational." The law applies to all health insurance policies issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland after January 1, 2027. This directly affects patients with chronic Lyme disease or related conditions who rely on extended antibiotic therapy and their insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers cover long-term Lyme disease treatment without caps or denial for 'unproven' labels, expanding patient access and protecting coverage rights per healthcare topic indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1461: Health Insurance - Coverage for Specialty Drugs - Rheumatologic Conditions

HB 1461 requires Maryland insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover specialty drugs for rheumatologic conditions (like rheumatoid arthritis) when administered or dispensed by in-network rheumatology providers meeting state regulations. It prohibits insurers from excluding coverage for these drugs based solely on the provider’s location (e.g., office-based vs. specialty pharmacy) and mandates fair reimbursement rates comparable to those paid to designated specialty pharmacies. The bill specifically applies to oral medications requiring complex dosing, auto-injected drugs, or those used with infusion therapies. It does not override medical necessity standards for coverage denial but aims to prevent treatment delays and ensure access to office-based care for patients with chronic rheumatologic conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurer coverage for specialty rheumatology drugs, prohibits location-based exclusions, and ensures fair reimbursement - directly expanding access to critical treatments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1251: Health Facilities and Health Insurance - Palliative Care - Required Access and Coverage (Edna G. Neal Palliative Care Act)

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurers to cover palliative care services (pain management, counseling) and requires facilities to provide access, expanding patient coverage and access to critical end-of-life care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

Track

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

HB 1126: Health Insurance and Managed Care Organizations - Laboratory Services - Contract Providers

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents insurers from restricting patient lab choice, ensures access to preferred labs without extra fees, and protects patient rights in healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 795: Health Insurance - Vision Benefits - Regulation of Insurers and Vision Benefit Managers

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates transparency and contract standards for vision insurers, improving provider access and patient rights in vision care coverage under healthcare insurance regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

Track

in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 738: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Mobile Crisis and Crisis Stabilization

SB 738 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurance plans to cover mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services starting January 1, 2027. These services provide immediate in-person mental health crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization for individuals experiencing acute mental health emergencies. The law applies to Medicaid recipients and individuals covered under specified health insurance policies, including nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations. It mandates coverage without additional patient cost-sharing for these services, effective for all new or renewed health plans on or after the start date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/insurance coverage for mental health crisis services, expanding access to acute mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Mental Health

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1469: Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

HB 1469 requires Maryland’s Insurance Administration to create a workgroup to study the current definition of "specialty drug" in health insurance. The workgroup, including pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacists, insurers, hospitals, and healthcare providers, will examine how the definition impacts patients and stakeholders, compare it to federal and state standards, and recommend a revised definition. It must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislature by January 1, 2027, after which the bill expires on June 30, 2027. This bill directly affects health insurers, pharmacies, hospitals, and patients using high-cost specialty drugs, aiming to clarify definitions that influence coverage and costs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates workgroup to study specialty drug definition's impact on patients/stakeholders, aiming to refine standards for better healthcare alignment and patient outcomes.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Prescription Drugs

Track

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1107: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage for Aesthetic Services and Restorative Care for Victims of Domestic Violence (Healing Our Scars Act)

HB 1107 (Healing Our Scars Act) requires Maryland Medicaid and specific health insurers (including nonprofit health plans, HMOs, and managed care organizations) to cover aesthetic services and restorative care for scars resulting from domestic violence injuries, starting January 1, 2027. This applies only to services deemed medically necessary by a licensed physician to treat physical injuries caused by domestic violence, as defined under Maryland Family Law. The law mandates this coverage for all policies issued or renewed in Maryland on or after the effective date. It does not expand eligibility for Medicaid but adds a specific coverage requirement for victims of domestic violence.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/insurers to cover medically necessary aesthetic/restorative care for domestic violence scars, expanding healthcare access for victims under public health programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

Track

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

Track