Del. Tiffany Alston

Maddy summaryHB 931 requires nursing homes in Maryland to designate physicians as medical directors who either hold a specific certification (CMD from PALTMED) or are actively working toward it. The bill directly affects nursing homes (which must comply with the certification requirement) and physicians serving in medical director roles (who must meet the certification standard). Key provisions include mandating the Maryland Department of Health to create a public online directory listing all nursing home medical directors with their credentials and certification status, and setting a deadline of September 30, 2028, for current medical directors to obtain certification. The law takes effect October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 1112 requires Maryland's Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission to study and recommend actions to stabilize individual and group health insurance markets. The Commission must examine specific areas including comparing Medicaid and commercial rates for potential premium savings, exploring regulatory changes for managed care organizations, merging insurance markets, and evaluating interstate purchasing pools. It also directs the Commission to assess prescription drug cost controls, support for health centers, reinsurance funds, and the potential reinstatement of the Maryland Health Insurance Plan. This bill does not create new laws or directly affect residents - it mandates a study to inform future policy decisions. The findings will be reported to the General Assembly by December 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 628 establishes a program providing $1,000 monthly payments for three years to young adults who were in out-of-home care (like foster care) on their 18th birthday, with birthdays on or after October 1, 2026. Payments cannot be counted as income for Medicaid, the Maryland Earned Income Tax Credit, or state/federal financial aid for education. The Department of Human Services must report annually on participants' income, location, employment, and housing status starting October 2027. The program will run from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2031, with automatic termination after that date.

Maddy summaryHB 410 requires food manufacturers, processors, and retailers in Maryland to use standardized date labels on packaged food starting July 1, 2027. It mandates replacing "Sell By" with "Best If Used By" for quality dates and "Use By" for safety dates, while prohibiting the sale of items labeled with "Sell By" after that date. The bill also requires the Maryland Department of Health to create and post educational materials about these labels online by July 2027. This affects all food businesses selling packaged products to consumers, excluding infant formula, beer, and malt beverages.

Maddy summaryHB 941 requires public restrooms in state and local government buildings, public transportation facilities (like stations), and public parks or recreation centers to provide specific hygiene products. It mandates an adequate supply of hand soap, toilet paper, towels or drying devices, water, waste containers, and menstrual hygiene products (such as tampons, sanitary napkins, and pads). The bill applies to all "public buildings" as defined - excluding schools - but covers facilities owned, leased, or operated by the state or political subdivisions. The law takes effect on October 1, 2026, ensuring consistent access to essential hygiene items in publicly accessible spaces.

Maddy summaryHB 1263 establishes a workgroup to study the regulation of postoperative cosmetic care provided by non-physician practitioners (such as estheticians or massage therapists), focusing on patient safety, consumer protection, and access to qualified providers. The workgroup, composed of health officials, patient advocates, and care providers, will examine current rules, identify gaps in care access, review risks from unregulated services, and evaluate best practices from other states. It must submit interim and final reports by December 2026 and 2027, respectively, and cannot recommend new licensing without legislative approval. The workgroup expires on June 30, 2028, unless extended.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 520 updates Maryland's regulations for naturopathic doctors. It modifies their scope of practice by clarifying which prescription drugs they can dispense as "starter doses" (limited to 72 hours or initial therapy), renames the Naturopathic Doctors Formulary Council to focus specifically on "Controlled Dangerous Substances," and adds new requirements for license renewals. The bill also mandates that naturopathic doctors provide patients with specific insurance information and report professional liability insurance details to the State Board of Physicians upon request. These changes directly affect licensed naturopathic doctors practicing in Maryland.