Healthcare (Medical Licensing)

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 876: Recovery Residences - Certification - Requirement

SB 876 requires recovery residences in Maryland to obtain certification from an approved credentialing entity before operating, beginning January 1, 2027. This directly affects recovery residences - housing facilities providing alcohol- and drug-free living for individuals with substance use disorders (but not clinical treatment services). The bill mandates credentialing entities to establish standards, conduct inspections, and issue annual certificates, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for operating without certification or falsely advertising certification. It replaces existing authorization language with a mandatory requirement and adds transparency through public lists of certified residences and credentialing entities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates certification standards for recovery residences (housing for substance use disorder patients), ensuring quality care infrastructure and safety without clinical treatment, aligning with mental health service support indicators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

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passed both · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1292: Child Advocacy Centers - Continuity of Care Standards for Health Care Professionals and Reports of Violations

HB 1292 requires child advocacy centers in Maryland to ensure all health care professionals providing medical or mental health services are properly licensed or certified and work within their scope of practice. It mandates that centers establish a "continuity of care plan" to notify families when providers change, including contact information for both new and former providers, and allows former providers to assist with care transitions per professional standards. Centers must report specific violations to health occupations boards or the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy, and the Governor’s Office must publish annual data about child advocacy centers online. This bill directly affects child advocacy centers, their health care staff, and the children and families receiving services at these centers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates licensing standards, continuity of care plans, and violation reporting to ensure quality care and patient safety in child advocacy centers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health

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signed · Maryland · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 915: State Board of Physicians - Delegation of Duties - Alterations

SB 915 requires individuals performing limited X-ray procedures (such as chest, spine, and limb imaging) in Maryland to register with the State Board of Physicians. It restricts these operations to non-invasive X-rays only (excluding CT scans, mammography, or fluoroscopy) and mandates 115 hours of specialized training plus 6 months of clinical experience. The bill also establishes disciplinary procedures for violations and allows physician assistants to perform X-ray duties under physician supervision, while updating rules for cardiovascular specialists and medical graduates. This directly affects medical staff, radiologic technicians, and physician assistants conducting basic X-ray services in clinical settings.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires training and registration for X-ray technicians to ensure safety and professional standards, enhancing patient care quality within healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 1325: Workers' Compensation - Evaluation of Permanent Impairments - Licensed Social Worker-Clinical

HB 1325 authorizes licensed clinical social workers to evaluate permanent impairments involving behavioral or mental disorders in Maryland workers' compensation claims. It requires these social workers to meet specific qualifications, including training in mental/behavioral conditions, rehabilitation counseling registration, two years of post-licensure experience, and COMAR authorization. The bill directly affects workers seeking compensation for mental/behavioral impairments and licensed clinical social workers who wish to provide these evaluations. It amends Maryland’s workers’ compensation law (Article 9, Section 9-721) to expand evaluation eligibility beyond psychologists and physicians. The changes take effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAuthorizes licensed clinical social workers to evaluate mental/behavioral impairments in workers' comp, expanding access to mental health assessments within healthcare framework.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAuthorizes clinical social workers to evaluate mental/behavioral impairments in workers' comp claims, expanding access to benefits for affected workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Professional Licensing Workers' Compensation

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signed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 28, 2026

HB 1483: Clinical Professional Counseling - Out-of-State Providers - Use of Telehealth for Continuity of Care

HB 1483 repeals Maryland's requirement for out-of-state clinical counselors to obtain a temporary telehealth license. It allows licensed counselors from other states to provide telehealth counseling to clients who relocated to Maryland (or returned after relocating), for up to six months, if they already had an established client-counselor relationship before the move. This exempts these counselors from Maryland's standard licensure rules during the six-month continuity period, but only for existing clients who relocated - not for new clients. The bill does not change regular licensing requirements for ongoing practice in Maryland.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensure barrier for out-of-state counselors providing telehealth mental health services, improving access for relocated clients during continuity period.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 1249: Certified Recovery Residences - Refusing Services to Individuals Receiving Medication-Assisted Treatment - Prohibition

HB 1249 prohibits certified recovery residences in Maryland from refusing services to individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder or requiring them to stop or change their MAT as a condition for housing. The bill amends certification standards for recovery residences (which provide non-clinical housing for people with substance use disorders) to ensure credentialing entities cannot allow such discrimination. It directly affects certified recovery residences and individuals using MAT for opioid addiction, requiring certification rules to explicitly ban these practices. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to opioid use disorder treatment under MAT.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits discrimination against MAT users in recovery housing, ensuring access to substance use treatment services and protecting patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingProhibits discrimination against MAT users in recovery residences, protecting tenant rights and ensuring housing access for vulnerable populations in housing settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Substance Abuse

passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 917: Health Occupations - Practice of Audiology - Definition

SB 917 clarifies the scope of practice for audiologists in Maryland by updating the legal definition of "practice audiology." It directly affects licensed audiologists by explicitly including the ordering and performing of in-office, non-radiographic scanning or imaging of the ear for auditory or vestibular conditions. The bill adds this specific imaging authority to existing duties like diagnosing ear conditions and fitting hearing aids, while clarifying that audiologists cannot perform surgeries, cochlear implant procedures, or prepare radiographic imaging. The change takes effect October 1, 2026, and aims to align legal definitions with current clinical practices.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands audiologists' scope to include in-office ear imaging, improving diagnostic access for auditory/vestibular conditions without restricting care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 986: Nurse Licensure - Educational Requirements - Enforcement

HB 986 requires nursing license applicants (both new and those seeking endorsement) to provide evidence that their nursing education meets Maryland's standards, including official transcripts. It directly affects registered nurses and licensed practical nurses applying for or renewing licenses in Maryland. The bill adds a new provision (§ 8-316(a)(37)) allowing the State Board of Nursing to take disciplinary action - such as reprimands, probation, suspension, or revocation - against licensees who fail to complete required educational standards. This clarifies the Board’s authority to enforce education requirements, including investigating applicants' qualifications and taking disciplinary steps for non-compliance. The bill amends existing sections of Maryland’s Health Occupations law and takes effect October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires nursing education standards to ensure qualified practitioners, strengthening healthcare quality and patient safety through licensure enforcement.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 568: Health Occupations - Licensed Psychologists - Prescriptive Authority

SB 568 would allow licensed psychologists in Maryland to prescribe certain medications under specific conditions, but only after obtaining certification from the State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The bill creates new requirements for certification, establishes a Prescriptive Authority Advisory Committee to oversee implementation, and adds new sections (18-3B-01 to 18-3B-09) to the health occupations code. It directly affects licensed psychologists who meet the new certification standards and complete required training, expanding their scope of practice beyond traditional psychological services. The policy change modifies existing licensing rules to include prescriptive authority as a defined part of "practice psychology" under specific board-certified conditions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables licensed psychologists to prescribe medications under certification, expanding mental health care access and provider scope per bill's core purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health

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