Healthcare (Insurance)

SB 779 exempts professional employer organizations (PEOs) from certain health benefit plan requirements when offering coverage to small employers in Maryland. It directly affects small businesses that use PEOs for employee benefits and the PEOs themselves. The bill requires PEOs to provide written disclosure of plan details to small employers before offering coverage, while removing the need for PEOs to comply with standard health plan mandates like offering plans through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange. This change simplifies access to health benefits for small employers using PEOs.

HB 498 removes an existing exemption that allowed intermediate care facilities providing substance use disorder treatment to change bed capacity without a certificate of need. It specifically targets facilities offering "medically managed residential substance use disorder treatment services," requiring them to file 45 days' written notice with the health commission before operating or expanding. The commission must then review and approve these changes based on whether they align with the state health plan, improve service efficiency, and serve the public interest. This bill directly affects facilities providing residential substance use treatment by adding a review process for bed capacity changes or new operations, replacing the previous exemption.