Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity

HB 1489 requires Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) to provide comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment starting July 1, 2026. This directly affects Medicaid recipients in Maryland who have obesity, mandating coverage for intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved anti-obesity medications. The bill specifies that coverage criteria cannot be stricter than the FDA's approved uses for medications, and medical necessity reviews must follow the same standards applied to other health conditions. It also requires the Maryland Department of Health to notify all program recipients about this coverage by June 1, 2026. The law takes effect October 1, 2025.