Del. Brian Chisholm

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill modifies the Pediatric Cancer Fund to restrict its use exclusively to pediatric cancer research while also permitting the allocation of up to 5% of the fund for administrative expenses and promotional activities. To manage these changes, the legislation establishes a new Pediatric Cancer Research Commission tasked with overseeing the award of competitive grants to eligible physicians, hospitals, and research institutions. The commission is composed of a diverse group including adult survivors, caregivers, scientists from major universities, medical professionals, and representatives from national health organizations. Additionally, the bill mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly detailing how the fund is administered and utilized.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the legal definition of the 2-1-1 Maryland system, describing it as a coordinated network for health and human services rather than just a telephone service, and identifies the specific nonprofit corporation that administers it. It removes the requirement for the Maryland Department of Health to evaluate call center performance and make recommendations on service quality or corrective actions, shifting that oversight role away from the state department. Additionally, the law expands the 2-1-1 Maryland board of directors to include two representatives nominated by the call centers themselves, ensuring greater stakeholder involvement in governance.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover custom devices known as orthoses, which are used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions. Starting in 2025, these plans must provide coverage for both the initial devices and their replacements, ensuring that replacement costs are not unfairly restricted if repairs would be too expensive or if the patient's condition changes. The legislation also mandates that insurers treat these devices as essential health benefits without imposing separate deductibles, higher copayments, or lifetime spending caps. Additionally, the bill prohibits discrimination in coverage decisions based on disability and sets clear standards for when a doctor can determine a device is medically necessary for daily living or physical activities.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law prohibits drug manufacturers, wholesalers, and logistics providers from discriminating against pharmacies that are authorized to receive discounted 340B drugs on behalf of covered entities. The bill makes it an unfair trade practice to deny or restrict the acquisition or delivery of these discounted medications, with the exception of cases where federal law explicitly forbids the transfer. Violations can result in fines up to $5,000 per package, license discipline by the State Board of Pharmacy, or investigation by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Additionally, the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board is tasked with studying the state's 340B program implementation, financials, and the impact of these new protections.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the licensing rules for certified nursing assistants and geriatric nursing assistants to align with federal regulations. It requires individuals applying for certification to complete a competency evaluation and allows training programs to request waivers for certain federal requirements. The law also clarifies the definition of "nursing support staff" and mandates that nursing homes include certified nursing assistants on their quality assurance committees. Additionally, the bill revises terminology to distinguish between different types of nursing assistants and ensures workplace safety committees consult with these staff members.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for Maryland law enforcement and prosecutors when a victim's death certificate is officially changed to list the cause or manner of death as undetermined or homicide. Specifically, it mandates that an assistant state's attorney must meet with the deceased's family or designated representative within 20 days to explain why a criminal investigation will not be pursued. Additionally, the law requires that such cases be reopened for reinvestigation and prohibits closing them for at least a specified period. These measures apply only when a medical examiner's initial determination is amended or corrected based on a formal request from a person in interest.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill creates a temporary 9-1-1 Specialist Recruitment and Retention Workgroup to study staffing issues for emergency call operators. The group is composed of state legislators, government officials, and representatives from emergency services organizations, who will meet without pay but can be reimbursed for travel expenses. Their main task is to examine current hiring and retention challenges, such as salary levels, benefits, and training requirements, while reviewing reports from a previous commission. By December 2024 and again in 2025, the workgroup must submit interim and final reports with recommendations to the governor and the state legislature on how to improve the profession. The law is set to expire automatically on December 31, 2025, unless renewed.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated. It requires peace officers to transport people needing emergency evaluation to a nearby facility rather than strictly the nearest one, and it allows psychiatric nurse practitioners to conduct these evaluations alongside physicians. The legislation also mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to follow a treatment plan if they refuse voluntary care. Additionally, the bill ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these proceedings and permits electronic submission of necessary petitions.

Maddy summaryHB 97, known as Rudy's Law, requires baby food manufacturers in Maryland to test their products for toxic heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury before packaging them for sale. Starting in January 2025, these manufacturers must have their food tested monthly by accredited laboratories and report the results to the Maryland Department of Health. Beginning in January 2026, companies must also publish these test results on their websites and include QR codes on product labels that allow consumers to access the data. The law also mandates that consumers report any baby food they believe contains excessive levels of these metals to state health officials.

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.