Del. Sandy Rosenberg

Maddy summaryHB 1086 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program), managed care organizations, and certain health insurers to cover anesthesia services without time limits. It mandates that if a licensed medical professional orders anesthesia for a procedure, coverage must extend for the entire procedure duration, and insurers cannot impose any time restrictions on this coverage. The bill applies to all policies issued or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Medicaid beneficiaries and insured patients needing anesthesia for medical procedures. This change aligns anesthesia coverage requirements with existing standards for other health services under Maryland law.

Maddy summaryHB 933 requires Maryland nursing homes to spend at least 75% of their total nursing and residential care income on direct care staff wages and benefits, including nurses, dietary workers, therapists, and social workers. Nursing homes must annually submit detailed cost reports by September 1 (starting in 2026) to the Maryland Department of Health, including proof of wage payments and other required details. The Department can enforce compliance through actions like recouping funds, imposing corrective plans, or suspending program participation for violations. This bill directly affects nursing homes operating in Maryland and aims to ensure adequate staffing resources through transparent financial reporting.

Maddy summaryHB 331 amends Maryland's Public Information Act to explicitly allow the Public Access Ombudsman to delegate specific powers and duties to staff members within their office. This change directly affects the Office of the Public Access Ombudsman by clarifying its internal operational authority. The key provision (added to Section 4-1B-03(g) of the Maryland Annotated Code) formally authorizes the Ombudsman to assign responsibilities to staff, streamlining the office's ability to manage public records requests and investigations. The bill does not alter public rights or create new obligations for citizens or agencies.

Maddy summaryHB 297 extends Maryland's State-Based Young Adult Health Insurance Subsidies Program by removing its scheduled termination date (sunset provision). The bill amends Maryland's Insurance Code to permanently authorize the program, which provides health insurance subsidies to young adults (typically ages 19-25) who purchase coverage through the state's Health Benefit Exchange. Key provisions include renaming the program from "Pilot" to "Program" and ensuring ongoing funding from state-designated sources (as specified in Section 31-107(e)(11)). This change allows the program to continue operating without a fixed end date, directly affecting young adults seeking affordable health coverage in Maryland.

Maddy summaryHB 848 requires Maryland health insurance carriers to submit quarterly reports to the Insurance Commissioner detailing adverse decisions (denials of coverage), including specific data on denied claims, grievance outcomes, and emergency case processing times. If a carrier’s adverse decisions for a specific service type rise by more than 10% annually or 25% over three years, they must also report the reasons for the increase, such as changes in medical management. The Commissioner will compile annual summary reports from this data and may use it to initiate examinations of carriers. This bill directly affects health insurance carriers operating in Maryland, aiming to increase transparency around coverage denials without altering coverage rules.

Maddy summaryHB 722 requires the Maryland Department of Health to submit two annual reports by December 1, 2025, and 2026, detailing improvements to oversight of substance use disorder treatment programs and recovery residences. The reports must cover revisions to administrative regulations (COMAR 10.63), enhanced oversight procedures for treatment programs, and updated certification/monitoring processes for recovery residences. They must also analyze how these changes would prevent incidents like those reported at PHA Healthcare, where patients experienced relapse or death. The bill directly affects the Department of Health’s reporting obligations to specific legislative committees. It does not create new programs but mandates transparency around existing oversight mechanisms.

Maddy summaryHB 729 modifies Maryland's Overdose Response Program training requirements and clarifies restrictions on the Opioid Restitution Fund. It requires the Maryland Department of Health to emphasize "restoration of breathing" and "compassionate postoverdose support" in training on opioid overdose response, including administration of reversal drugs. The bill also explicitly restricts fund use to settlement agreement purposes, adding requirements to address racial disparities in access to prevention and treatment services. This directly affects the Department of Health's program administration and how the Opioid Restitution Fund - funded by opioid industry settlements - is allocated for evidence-based substance use disorder programs.

Maddy summaryHB 1351 requires health insurance carriers in Maryland to accept or reject applications from specific behavioral health professionals within 30 days of receiving a complete application. It directly affects licensed graduate social workers, counselors, therapists, and psychology associates who practice within their licensed scope, prohibiting carriers from rejecting them solely based on their license type. The bill shortens the decision timeline for clinical professionals (like Licensed Clinical Social Workers) to 30 days, compared to the previous 120-day window for others, and mandates written notice of decisions. Carriers failing to comply face penalties under Maryland insurance law. This change aims to streamline access to behavioral health services by reducing delays in provider panel enrollment.

Maddy summaryHB 1083 requires Maryland's Department of Health to convene a workgroup by December 2025 to create a plan implementing federal child behavioral health screening and treatment rules (EPSDT). The workgroup must include behavioral health professionals, childhood mental health specialists, parents/caregivers, children with behavioral health needs, and advocates. It will develop strategies for screening, using a specific diagnostic tool for children under 5, and expanding community-based services to address early symptoms, routine care, and crisis needs. The plan must align with federal best practices for children’s behavioral health care access. The department must submit the final plan to the legislature by December 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 995 establishes a 15-member workgroup to study rising adverse decisions (like denied insurance claims or medical necessity denials) in Maryland's health care system. The workgroup, including state agency leaders, hospital representatives, insurers, and patient advocates, will review current reporting data and recommend standardized definitions, reporting methods, and processes to reduce such denials. It must submit findings and recommendations to legislative committees by December 1, 2025, with the bill expiring June 30, 2026. This is a procedural study mechanism with no immediate policy changes.