Del. Harry Bhandari

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.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill requires every owner of a private dental office to appoint a licensed dentist as a supervising dentist who is responsible for all infection control activities within that office. The designated supervising dentist must register with the State Board of Dental Examiners and oversee compliance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, including water quality and spore testing, though they are not responsible for individual dentist actions like sterilization or personal protective equipment use. To ensure proper oversight, the law limits each supervising dentist to managing no more than three offices that are close enough for personal inspection, and owners must immediately name an interim supervisor if the primary one steps down. Additionally, the bill allows the state board to charge a registration fee for these supervising dentists and clarifies that the term "practice dentistry" does not include the specific supervisory duties outlined in the act.

Maddy summaryThe Growing Apprenticeships and the Public Safety Workforce (GAPS) Act expands Maryland's apprenticeship program to include a broader range of public safety agencies, such as correctional facilities, in addition to traditional law enforcement departments. This bill increases the maximum grant amount for agencies participating in the program from $2,000 to $5,000 per apprentice and adjusts eligibility requirements to ensure apprentices live in areas with at least 10% poverty. Furthermore, the legislation mandates that the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission develop mental health wellness policies for law enforcement and correctional facilities while establishing a workgroup to study ways to increase employment in these sectors.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the composition of the State Board of Social Work Examiners and modifies licensing rules for social workers. It changes the board to consist of 12 members, including specific representatives for bachelor and master social workers, while removing the requirement for a separate seat for certified social workers. The legislation also simplifies the process for out-of-state applicants to obtain Maryland licenses by allowing those with equivalent credentials and exam experience to qualify without needing a specific licensed certified social worker designation. Additionally, it adjusts the criteria for license reissuance to align with these updated professional categories.

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.