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SB 306 Maryland Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Workers' Compensation - Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical Services - Reimbursements

SB 306 requires Maryland's Workers' Compensation Commission to regulate how prescription drugs and pharmacy services are reimbursed under workers' compensation. It limits reimbursements to a cost index based on the drug's acquisition price per unit at dispensing time, plus reasonable dispensing fees. This affects injured workers needing medication, healthcare providers billing for these services, and the Commission that enforces the rules. The bill aims to cap payments at community-standard rates for similar care, effective October 1, 2025.
Issues: ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentCaps reimbursement rates for workers' comp prescription drugs, limiting payment amounts for injured workers' medications, aligning with 'limiting benefits' indicator.85% confidence
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House of Delegates Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Mar 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Workers' Compensation - Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical Services - Reimbursements → Third - Workers' Compensation - Prescription Drug and Pharmaceutical Services - Reimbursements · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to add a requirement for the Commission to regulate prescription drug reimbursement fees by September 1, 2026, and to establish a study by the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board on prescription drug affordability challenges in the workers' compensation market. The effective date of the Act was also changed from October 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.
Scope change
The bill now explicitly requires the Commission to regulate prescription drug reimbursement fees by a specific deadline and adds a new study requirement for the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
REQUIREMENT

Added a deadline for the Commission to regulate prescription drug reimbursement fees by September 1, 2026.

Added a requirement for the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board to conduct a study on prescription drug affordability challenges in the workers' compensation market, including prescribing, billing, and dispensing practices.

Added provisions allowing insurance carriers or employers to contract with pharmacy benefits managers or networks for reimbursement rates and pricing indexes different from those established by the Commission.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the Act from October 1, 2025 to July 1, 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 23, 2025

How they voted

46–0
Passed
Total votes 46
Feb 23, 2025
D Democratic33
33 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican13
13 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
6
Committee
5
Mar 14, 2025
Committee
Referred Economic Matters
lower
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third Reading Passed
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion Special Order until 3/12 (Senator Jennings) Adopted
upper
Mar 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments {
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance
upper
Feb 23, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (46-0)
senate
Jan 13, 2025
Committee
First Reading Finance
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Pam Beidle
Pam Beidle
DDemocratic
MD
32