Sen. Kathy Klausmeier

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 Maryland bill requires health care providers issuing standing orders for opioid overdose reversal drugs to let patients choose any FDA-approved formulation of the drug. It also mandates that the Maryland Department of Health submit annual reports to state committees by December 1 of 2024, 2025, and 2026 detailing available reversal drugs and explaining why any specific approved drug has not been included in standing orders. These changes aim to increase patient choice and improve transparency regarding access to life-saving medications for individuals at risk of opioid overdose.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires alcoholic beverage retailers in Baltimore County to obtain written approval from the local Board of License Commissioners before applying for an individual storage permit. The legislation updates state law to ensure that anyone wanting to warehouse alcohol where they hold the title must first get this specific local endorsement. Once approved, the permit holder can legally operate a storage facility for alcoholic beverages for a fee of $50. The changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply specifically to Baltimore County, while a similar rule already exists for Anne Arundel County.

Maddy summarySB 751 updates Maryland's Opioid Restitution Fund to increase transparency and ensure specific funding priorities are met. The bill requires the Department of Health to share allocation decisions with an advisory council and post those decisions online within a week. It mandates that at least 25% of the fund's money each year goes to community-based recovery organizations. Additionally, the law outlines how funds must be used for evidence-based treatments, pilot programs, and evaluations, while establishing new reporting rules for local governments receiving money.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law updates the rules for the Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program, which provides medical assistance to people with disabilities who work. It requires the state health department to offer these services to eligible applicants aged 16 and older without restricting access based on income, assets, retirement funds, or age. The bill also mandates that participants pay monthly premiums based solely on their earnings and establishes a specific financial account called an Independence Account where they can save money without losing their benefits. Additionally, the legislation creates a smoother transition for current program recipients and requires the department to consult with disability advocates twice a year to ensure the program meets their needs.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law requires advanced practice registered nurses to inform patients in writing if they do not have professional liability insurance or if their coverage has lapsed. The notification must be given at the start of any visit where care is not free of charge and included in the informed consent form for any proposed procedures. Patients must sign the notice, which the nurse then keeps in their medical records, and nurses without coverage must also post this information in a visible area of their practice. The State Board of Nursing is tasked with creating the specific wording for these notices, and the law takes effect on October 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis Maryland law expands the definition of accredited residential treatment centers to include facilities certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Council on Accreditation, in addition to those previously recognized by the Joint Commission. By updating state statutes, the bill ensures that these additional organizations are treated equivalently to the Joint Commission when determining which centers are subject to specific state inspections and oversight. Consequently, residential treatment centers meeting the standards of any of these three bodies will now be classified as accredited for the purposes of regulatory compliance and deficiency reviews. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, aligning state definitions with a broader range of recognized accreditation standards for patient care facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the Maryland Task Force to Study Crime Classification by renaming it the Task Force to Study Crime Reclassification and Penalties and shifting its focus from classifying offenses to reviewing their penalties and potential reclassification. The legislation updates the task force's membership to include representatives from the Attorney General's office, state's attorneys, public defenders, domestic violence advocates, and the sentencing commission, while also adding two members appointed by the Maryland State Bar Association. Its primary duties involve examining penalties across various criminal and civil laws to determine if offenses should be reclassified based on severity, whether penalties are too lenient or severe, and if statutory changes are needed for crimes lacking a specific intent requirement. The task force is required to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2025, and the act will remain in effect until June 30, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the Maryland National Guard Tricare Premium Reimbursement Program by adjusting the monthly reimbursement limit for eligible members. It allows the state to provide grants to National Guard members who qualify for Tricare Reserve Select coverage or dental benefits to help pay their premiums for themselves and their immediate families. The new provision sets the maximum monthly reimbursement at $60, provided the total amount paid out in a fiscal year does not exceed the state budget appropriation for the program. Effective July 1, 2024, the Department of Military Affairs will administer these grants according to updated regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a Maryland property tax credit for disabled veterans to include those with a 100% nonpermanent service-connected disability, in addition to existing eligibility for those with at least 50% permanent disabilities. To qualify, veterans must own a dwelling house occupied by no more than two families, have an income under $100,000, and provide specific documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The credit amount varies based on the disability rating, offering 50% of the property tax for ratings of 75% or higher and 25% for ratings between 50% and 74%. Local governments retain the authority to set their own application rules and may choose to limit the credit to only the most severely disabled veterans if they wish.