Del. Tiffany Alston

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential service agencies in Maryland to submit annual reports to the Department of Labor detailing the wage rates paid to personal care aides, including average, highest, and lowest figures. Additionally, it mandates that the Department of Health analyze reimbursement rates against actual service costs and develop a plan to adjust payments so that aide wages reach at least 150% of the state minimum wage. The Department must also consult with various service providers and report its findings and recommendations to the state legislature every two years starting in 2026. These measures aim to improve transparency and ensure fair compensation for workers within the Maryland Medical Assistance Program.

Maddy summaryHB 149 updates Maryland laws to extend the time health care providers must retain medical records, laboratory reports, and X-rays before they can be destroyed. The bill requires providers to send a notice via both first-class mail and email, informing patients or guardians of the proposed destruction date and offering a window to retrieve records. Under this legislation, a provider may only destroy records after receiving written authorization from the patient or their parent or guardian. Additionally, if a provider decides to destroy records, they must make those records available for retrieval within 60 days before the destruction date at a designated location. The law also outlines specific procedures for notifying patients when a provider closes their practice or retires, ensuring records can still be accessed.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill expands the legal definition of massage therapy to include specific instrument-assisted techniques like cupping and muscle scraping, provided practitioners complete additional training. It also streamlines the process for restoring licenses to massage therapists who have let their credentials lapse, as long as they apply within five years and meet standard renewal requirements. Furthermore, the legislation requires the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners to mandate a physical examination by a designated healthcare provider if there is evidence that a therapist or applicant might harm clients. Finally, the bill establishes that refusing such an examination will be treated as proof of incompetence unless the refusal was beyond the individual's control.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the continuing education rules for certified dialysis technicians to require 3 hours of approved training instead of the previous 3-hour requirement. It directly affects dialysis technicians in the state who need to renew their professional certificates every two years. The law mandates that renewing technicians must complete at least 16 hours of practical work and the updated 3 hours of continuing education before their license expires. This change ensures technicians stay current with industry standards while maintaining the existing requirement for an active national certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially renames the State Advisory Council on Quality Care at the End of Life to the State Advisory Council on Serious Illness Care in Maryland. The change updates the council's title in state laws and modifies the form used for Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment to reflect the new name. While the bill does not alter the council's existing duties, membership composition, or operational rules, it ensures all official references to the group use the updated terminology. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2024, and applies to the state's health and aging departments as well as other relevant agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's Opioid Restitution Fund by creating a formal process for how money from the fund is distributed to local communities. It requires the state health department to share its funding decisions with an advisory council and to publish those decisions online for public transparency. The legislation also mandates that at least 25% of the fund's money each year goes to community-based recovery organizations. Additionally, the bill clarifies which specific programs, such as overdose prevention and treatment services, are eligible for funding and establishes new reporting rules for local governments that receive these funds.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill creates a pathway for dentists trained outside the United States and Canada to obtain a limited license to practice, specifically to serve adults in public health clinics and federally qualified health centers. To qualify, applicants must hold a foreign dental degree, complete a two-year pediatric dentistry residency and fellowship, and commit to providing care for at least two years to Medicaid, uninsured, or indigent patients. The legislation requires approval from local health officials and the University of Maryland Dental School Dean, and it restricts these dentists to working only at the specific facility where they have a contractual obligation. Once the two-year service period is completed, eligible practitioners can apply for a full general dental license by passing additional state and national exams.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires advanced practice registered nurses to inform patients in writing if they do not have professional liability insurance or if their coverage has lapsed. The notification must be provided during a patient's first visit when coverage is missing and must be included in the informed consent form for any medical procedures. Patients must sign the notice at the time of the visit or consent, and the nurse must keep a copy in the patient's medical records. Additionally, nurses without insurance must display this information in a visible area of their workplace. The State Board of Nursing is tasked with creating the specific language for these notices, which will become effective on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryHB 1092 requires the Maryland 9-1-1 Board to create training standards for public safety answering point personnel that include high-quality telecommunications cardiopulmonary resuscitation instruction. This training must follow current national emergency care guidelines, cover recognition protocols for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and teach compression-only CPR techniques. The bill also updates the 9-1-1 Trust Fund to allow money from this source to pay for these specific CPR training costs. These changes aim to better equip 9-1-1 operators to provide life-saving guidance during cardiac emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Maryland Emergency Department Wait Time Reduction Commission within the state's Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems to address long wait times in hospital emergency rooms. The commission will be composed of representatives from health agencies, hospitals, patient advocates, and various medical professionals who will work together to assess current services and develop strategies for improvement. Key provisions include creating standardized operational protocols, implementing advanced technology solutions, and launching training programs to enhance efficiency and patient care. Additionally, the commission is authorized to request data from healthcare entities and requires these entities to sign agreements allowing the sharing of necessary information to monitor performance.