Healthcare

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1021: Health Occupations - Licensed Psychologists - Prescriptive Authority

HB 1021 would allow licensed psychologists in Maryland to prescribe certain medications under specific conditions, provided they complete state certification. The bill requires psychologists to be certified by the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and establishes a new Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to oversee implementation. It directly affects licensed psychologists seeking to prescribe, adding new requirements for certification, qualifications, and prescribing practices under new sections (18-3B-01 to 18-3B-09) in Maryland’s Health Occupations code. The law amends existing statutes to define "authorized prescriber" to include certified psychologists and clarifies that prescribing must occur within the scope of psychological practice, not as a substitute for medical care.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables licensed psychologists to prescribe medications under certification, expanding mental health treatment access and improving patient care options for prescription-based therapies.95% confidence

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1445: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Developmental Disabilities Administration - Home- and Community-Based Services Eligibility Determinations (Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act)

HB 1445, the "Maryland Protecting People With Disabilities Act," changes eligibility rules for home- and community-based services under Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program). It requires the state to continue services uninterrupted during appeals if an individual loses eligibility, prohibits automatic termination solely due to administrative errors (procedural disenrollment), and mandates data sharing between providers and the Department of Health. The bill directly affects people receiving Developmental Disabilities Administration services and Medicaid beneficiaries who risk losing community-based care due to eligibility disputes. Key provisions include extending appeal timelines (replacing 90-day deadlines with continuous service until appeal resolution) and requiring the state to reserve waiver slots for those who lost eligibility unfairly. These changes aim to align with the Olmstead v. L.C. Supreme Court ruling protecting community integration rights.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents administrative termination of Medicaid services during appeals and ensures uninterrupted access to home/community-based healthcare for disabled individuals, directly protecting patient access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Tags People with Disabilities

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died · Maryland · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 785: Public Health and Health Insurance - Access to Abortion Care - Reporting Requirements

SB 785 requires the Maryland Department of Health to include specific recommendations in its annual report on the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program, aiming to address provider shortages for abortion services. It also mandates the Maryland Insurance Commissioner to collect annual data from insurers and health plans about federal Affordable Care Act segregated accounts, including receipts, disbursements, and balances. The Commissioner must submit this aggregated data to the Senate Finance and House Health Committees by January 1 each year, using data from the previous two years. This bill directly affects state health agencies, insurers, and legislative committees by creating new reporting obligations related to abortion care access and health insurance data transparency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill addresses abortion care access shortages via provider training program recommendations, directly improving patient access to healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Public Health Women's Health

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 878: Health Facilities - Certified Recovery Residences - Unannounced Inspections

This bill requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct at least two unannounced on-site inspections annually at each certified recovery residence to verify compliance with health and safety standards. If deficiencies are found, the residence must correct them within one month after receiving notice. Failure to correct issues within this period allows the Department to direct the credentialing entity to revoke the residence's certification. The bill directly affects certified recovery residences (facilities providing housing for individuals recovering from substance use disorders) and the Department of Health's oversight process.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health inspections at recovery residences to enforce safety standards, protecting patient care quality and facility compliance with health regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 950: Conversion Therapy - Prohibitions and Causes of Action

SB 950 prohibits licensed mental health providers from performing or advertising conversion therapy (efforts to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity). It allows victims to file malpractice lawsuits for psychological harm caused by such therapy, removes limits on noneconomic damages in these cases, and bans providers from making false claims about conversion therapy. The bill also requires insurers covering such providers to charge a surcharge, with funds directed to a special fund supporting victims' claims. This directly affects therapy patients, mental health providers, and insurance companies in Maryland.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits harmful conversion therapy, protects patients from psychological harm, enables malpractice lawsuits for mental health services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1015: Developmental Disabilities Services - Expedited Eligibility Determinations for Recently Relocated Individuals (Ralph's Act)

HB 1015 (Ralph's Act) ensures continuity of developmental disability services for individuals who recently moved to Maryland after losing their primary caregiver in another state. It directly affects people who received home- and community-based waiver services in another state for the past 10 years and relocated to live with immediate family following the death or incapacitation of their former caretaker. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to create an expedited 30-day process to determine eligibility, allows pre-residency eligibility assessments, and ensures those approved receive services through priority categories matching their prior state's support. This policy change prevents service disruptions during relocation transitions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continuity of developmental disability services (home/community-based waivers) for relocated individuals, maintaining access to healthcare services without gaps.90% confidence

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 18, 2026

HB 1068: Health Insurance - Special Enrollment Period for Newly Hired Employees of Small Businesses

HB 1068 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to provide a 60-day special enrollment period for individuals who become newly hired by small businesses that do not offer employer-sponsored health plans. This applies to people purchasing coverage through the state’s health insurance marketplace (Individual Exchange) or outside it. The special enrollment period begins on the first day of employment and allows new hires to enroll in health insurance without waiting for the standard open enrollment period. The law takes effect January 1, 2027, directly benefiting newly employed workers at small businesses without health benefits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates 60-day special enrollment for new hires at small businesses without employer plans, expanding health insurance access without waiting for open enrollment.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProvides immediate health insurance access for new hires at small businesses, expanding worker benefits under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

HB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates crisis referrals for suicidal users, directly supporting mental health access within healthcare services85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safety protocols, AI transparency, and crisis resources for companion chatbots, aligning with consumer protection regulations in tech policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Social Media

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

HB 1291: Public Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Continuity of Care

HB 1291 requires the Maryland Department of Health to create procedures ensuring seniors aged 65+ who received in-home services within the past six months can temporarily continue care during service lapses caused by departmental errors. The bill mandates that temporary service continuation (up to 52 days or 1,248 hours) begin immediately upon service interruption and cover only previously approved services. It prohibits the department from altering existing appeal rights or billing recipients for services provided during this temporary period. The law applies specifically to seniors facing administrative or technical errors in their Medicaid coverage, ensuring uninterrupted care without financial burden. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continuity of in-home care for seniors during service lapses, protecting access to approved services without billing recipients or altering appeal rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicaid Public Health

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

HB 1534: Data Centers - Standards for Operation and Siting

HB 1534 establishes new operational and siting standards for data centers in Maryland, directly affecting data center owners and operators. It requires data centers within 2,500 feet of schools to maintain 1,000-foot setbacks from high-voltage power lines, fund school air filtration systems, and install public air quality sensors monitoring pollutants like particulate matter. The Department of the Environment must create regulations limiting sound levels (to 45 DBA or 55 DBC near schools), requiring backup generators to meet strict emissions standards, and banning non-emergency testing during school hours. Violations incur a $10,000 civil penalty per offense, with repeated violations risking permit revocation for the data center.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires data centers to fund school air filtration systems and install air quality sensors near schools, directly improving school environmental safety and infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires air quality sensors for pollutants and funds school filtration systems, directly reducing environmental pollution near schools per bill's operational standards.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires data centers to fund school air filtration and monitor air pollutants, directly improving public health near schools per bill's operational standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Air Quality

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