Sen. Pam Beidle

Maddy summarySB 476 requires Maryland health insurers, nonprofit health plans, and HMOs to cover genetic testing for individuals with a personal or family history of cancer (when recommended by a doctor) and follow-up cancer imaging based on medical guidelines. It prohibits these plans from charging copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for these specific services. The bill directly affects patients with cancer risk factors and Maryland health insurers, ensuring no out-of-pocket costs for these medically necessary screenings. It takes effect January 1, 2026, applying to all health plans issued or renewed in Maryland after that date.

Maddy summarySB 406 requires Maryland's Medicaid program and certain private health insurers (including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations) to cover orthoses - custom-designed devices treating neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions - starting January 1, 2026. The law mandates annual coverage for the devices themselves, repairs, and replacements when medically necessary due to physiological changes or device damage (not misuse), with no higher copays than other medical benefits. It prohibits separate lifetime dollar limits for orthosis coverage and aligns medical necessity standards with Medicare guidelines, covering activities like daily living, job tasks, and physical therapy. This applies to all Medicaid enrollees and individuals covered under qualifying health insurance policies in Maryland.

Maddy summarySB 55 prohibits Maryland state agencies and instrumentalities from using public funds to develop or operate a magnetic levitation (maglev) transportation system within the state. This applies to all state departments and units, preventing them from allocating budgeted money for such projects. However, the bill explicitly allows spending on salaries for staff reviewing permits or approvals related to maglev systems. The law takes effect June 1, 2025, and focuses solely on funding restrictions, not the technology itself.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland bill updates the legal definition of practicing audiology to clarify what actions audiologists are authorized to perform. It explicitly includes the evaluation, diagnosis, and management of hearing and balance conditions, as well as the fitting and management of hearing aids, sound processors, and cochlear implants. The legislation also specifies that audiology practice covers certain ear examinations and non-surgical procedures like removing earwax or ordering medical tests. Conversely, the bill clearly states that audiology does not include performing surgery or operating X-ray equipment. These changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and aim to provide clearer guidelines for the licensure and regulation of audiologists in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the membership rules for Maryland's county mental health advisory committees by adding a specific category for individuals with experience in military or veteran mental health care. It requires that at least one voting member on these committees be selected from a pool that includes people who have received mental health services, parents of individuals with mental disorders, and now, those with military mental health experience. The legislation also clarifies the composition of these committees to ensure representation from various community groups, including healthcare providers, law enforcement, and social services agencies. These changes aim to broaden the perspective of the committees to better address the unique mental health needs of veterans and service members within their counties.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires public school and college coaches to receive training on identifying signs of mental health issues in student-athletes. The State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Health will create specific guidelines covering depression, trauma, violence, youth suicide, and substance abuse. All public schools and higher education institutions with athletic programs must provide this training to their coaches starting July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law allows researchers from colleges and universities to review confidential court records related to extreme risk protective orders for academic or policy studies. To access these records, the institution must sign an agreement with the state judiciary that ensures the data remains secure, is used only for the specific research project, and is never shared with unauthorized individuals. The legislation also permits researchers to publish statistical summaries of the data as long as no individual's identity is revealed. Violations of the confidentiality agreement could result in legal penalties or court injunctions to stop unauthorized disclosures.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires medical assistance programs and private health insurers to cover orthoses and prostheses starting in 2025. It defines orthoses as custom or prefabricated devices used to treat neuromuscular or musculoskeletal conditions and mandates that these devices be considered essential health benefits. The bill also sets specific rules for replacing devices, ensuring they are not subject to higher copayments or separate annual limits, and prohibits denial of coverage based on a patient's disability status. Additionally, it establishes that coverage decisions must align with federal Medicare standards and allows for replacements if repairs would cost more than 60% of a new device.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates Maryland's mental health laws to improve how individuals in crisis are evaluated and treated, specifically affecting peace officers, emergency facilities, and people with severe mental illness. It allows peace officers to transport individuals to nearby emergency facilities rather than strictly the nearest one and expands the ability to evaluate patients for involuntary admission to include psychiatric nurse practitioners. Additionally, the legislation mandates that every county establish an assisted outpatient treatment program, which can legally require individuals with severe mental illness to attend treatment to prevent homelessness and repeated hospitalizations. The law also ensures that public defenders provide legal representation during these assisted outpatient proceedings and permits electronic submission of evaluation petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Maryland's existing Law Enforcement Cadet Apprenticeship Program into a broader Public Safety Apprenticeship Program that includes correctional facilities and other public safety agencies. It increases the maximum grant amounts available to agencies, raising the startup grant limit to $200,000 and the per-apprentice stabilization grant to $5,000, while also requiring agencies to bargain with unions regarding employment terms before receiving funds. Additionally, the legislation mandates the Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission to create mental health wellness policies for law enforcement and correctional facilities and establishes a new workgroup to study ways to increase employment in these sectors.