Del. Teresa Reilly

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires health insurance carriers to report detailed quarterly data to the Insurance Commissioner regarding the number of members, clean claims, and specific outcomes of grievances and emergency cases. The law also establishes a workgroup composed of representatives from insurance companies and consumers to study the appeals and grievances process, including how carriers use artificial intelligence in these decisions. This group must submit its findings and recommendations to state legislative committees by December 31, 2024, to help improve transparency and consumer understanding of the claims process.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires health care providers issuing standing orders for opioid overdose reversal drugs to let patients choose any FDA-approved formulation of the medication. It also mandates that the Maryland Department of Health submit regular reports to state legislative committees by December 1 of 2024, 2025, and 2026, detailing available drugs and explaining why certain approved options have not been included in standing orders. These changes aim to increase patient choice and improve transparency regarding the availability of life-saving overdose reversal treatments.

Maddy summaryThe Maryland Maternal Health Act of 2024 requires hospitals and freestanding birthing centers to complete specific risk assessment and referral forms for high-risk pregnancies, with compliance tied to their ability to receive state medical reimbursement. Facilities must submit these forms to local health departments and provide postpartum parents with information on managing complications, including mental health and substance misuse, followed by a phone call within 24 to 48 hours of discharge. Additionally, the state will create a report card to evaluate maternity care quality and conduct studies on severe maternal morbidity incidents to improve surveillance and reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the Maryland Department of Health to create and run a three-year public education campaign focused on preventing prostate, lung, and breast cancer, with a specific emphasis on communities disproportionately affected by these diseases. The campaign will provide information on risk factors, warning signs, and prevention guidelines while encouraging participation in clinical trials and screenings, and it will be developed in partnership with healthcare providers, hospitals, and relevant health associations. Funding for this initiative will come from the Cigarette Restitution Fund, with a total appropriation capped at $750,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The Department is required to submit progress reports to the General Assembly every year starting in 2027 to demonstrate how well the campaign is meeting its measurable goals.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill expands the list of people who can request medical records without paying a fee to include attorneys representing patients. The law specifically allows these attorneys to obtain records free of charge when the documents are needed to file or appeal a claim for Social Security disability income or benefits. By adding attorneys to the existing exemptions that already cover patients and their personal representatives, the bill ensures legal advocates can access necessary medical information without incurring costs. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and apply to all health care providers in the state.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires hospitals to create specific protocols for treating patients suffering from opioid overdoses or related emergency conditions. Under the new rules, hospitals must have the capacity to provide and administer approved medications for opioid use disorder and offer evidence-based interventions to reduce the risk of future harm before discharging patients. Additionally, the bill mandates that hospitals refer patients diagnosed with opioid use disorder to community providers for voluntary ongoing treatment and connect them with peer support professionals. To help hospitals implement these requirements, the state will use funds from the Opioid Restitution Fund to provide necessary training and resources.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill modernizes the practice of physician assistants by requiring them to hold a collaboration agreement with a patient care team physician instead of a delegation agreement. It also updates the scope of practice and education requirements for licensure, while allowing federal government physician assistants to perform their duties during specific disasters. Additionally, the legislation mandates that the State Board of Physicians regularly review and update the list of advance duties available to physician assistants. These changes aim to clarify professional responsibilities and streamline how physician assistants operate within the state's healthcare system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all Maryland hospitals and urgent care centers to adopt a standardized protocol for identifying and treating patients with sepsis by January 1, 2025. The protocol must follow Centers for Disease Control guidelines and include specific steps for screening, administering antibiotics, providing fluid support, and training staff on these procedures. Facilities must also collect data on their sepsis treatment outcomes to improve internal quality and share their protocols with the state health department upon request.

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.