HB 1249 prohibits certified recovery residences in Maryland from refusing services to individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder or requiring them to stop or change their MAT as a condition for housing. The bill amends certification standards for recovery residences (which provide non-clinical housing for people with substance use disorders) to ensure credentialing entities cannot allow such discrimination. It directly affects certified recovery residences and individuals using MAT for opioid addiction, requiring certification rules to explicitly ban these practices. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to opioid use disorder treatment under MAT.
HB 1470 requires Maryland's Department of Health to conduct an in-state cost-of-dispensing survey for Medicaid drugs at least once every three years, starting in 2026. Within six months after each survey, the Department must set a fee-for-service reimbursement rate for pharmacists dispensing Medicaid-covered drugs based on the survey results. This directly affects pharmacies participating in Maryland's Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid), as the new fee structure will determine their reimbursement for drug dispensing services. The bill establishes a regular, data-driven process to update these fees, ensuring they reflect actual dispensing costs.
HB 1280 directs Maryland's Comptroller to study whether a program providing monthly payments to caregivers for specific family members would be feasible. The study must examine economic impacts like potential job growth, increased tax revenue, and reduced public benefits use, while assessing costs and funding options. It requires collaboration with the Department of Human Services and agencies like the Department of Aging, with a final report due by July 1, 2027. The bill expires June 30, 2028, and does not create the program itself.
HB 1091 requires health insurers and dental plan organizations to directly reimburse dentists not in their network (nonpreferred dentists) when a patient assigns their insurance benefits to the dentist, and prohibits them from blocking such assignments. It also mandates that nonpreferred dentists inform patients about their non-network status, potential out-of-pocket costs, and payment terms before providing care, and submit a disclosure form to the insurer for the assignment. Insurers may still refuse direct payment only in specific cases, such as if the assignment was received too late, an error occurred, the patient withdrew the assignment, or the patient paid the dentist at the time of service. The bill directly affects non-network dentists, their patients, and insurance companies covering dental services.
HB 1365 requires healthcare providers (like doctors and nurses) to complete menopause-specific training to earn continuing education credits, with licensing boards mandated to grant double credit (2 hours for every 1 hour of training). It also requires insurers, nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations to cover the evaluation and management of menopause and related symptoms. The law applies to all relevant providers and insurers in Maryland, effective January 1, 2027. The Department must identify a standardized training program after consulting with professional associations like The Menopause Society.
HB 1076 requires all public senior higher education institutions (like University System of Maryland schools) and community colleges in Maryland to annually report on student access to over-the-counter contraception to the Maryland Higher Education Commission. Community colleges must provide students with access to all FDA-approved over-the-counter contraception methods through campus health centers, retail locations, vending machines, or other accessible campus channels. Institutions must submit reports detailing access methods, availability, and student consultation, with the Commission then reporting aggregated data to the General Assembly each year. This bill directly affects campus health services and student access at public colleges, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 1540 repeals the 2028 termination date for annual state funding required for the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. The bill ensures the state will continue appropriating $10 million each fiscal year (previously set to end in 2028) to support the center's operations and transition. This directly affects the University of Maryland Medical System Corporation and Prince George's County, which must provide matching funds totaling $208 million for capital construction. The funding is specifically designated to maintain the medical center's financial viability, improve healthcare access, and prevent operating losses. The change removes the fixed end date, making the funding permanent unless future legislation alters it.
HB 1075 expands eligibility for Maryland's Graduate and Professional Scholarship Program to include students at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) enrolled in four specific degree programs: Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. This change directly affects UMES students in these fields who previously could not qualify for the scholarship. The bill amends the existing law by adding UMES to the list of eligible institutions under the program's criteria, which requires applicants to be Maryland residents attending approved institutions in designated health-related fields. The policy change takes effect July 1, 2026, allowing UMES students to access this financial aid for the first time.
HB 746 prohibits Maryland Medicaid (Medical Assistance Program) and private health insurers from charging copays, coinsurance, or deductibles for services delivered under the Collaborative Care Model. This model integrates mental/behavioral health services into primary care through coordinated care, regular outcome monitoring, and specialist consultations. The law applies to all Medicaid recipients and covers services under private health insurance plans (including nonprofit health plans and health maintenance organizations) issued in Maryland, with an exception for high-deductible health plans. It takes effect January 1, 2027, ensuring no cost-sharing for these integrated care services.
SB 521 requires health insurance companies to notify patients in writing when a primary care provider or behavioral health provider is removed from their network, including the reason for termination and the right to continue seeing that provider for up to 90 days if the removal isn't due to fraud or misconduct. It mandates insurers to provide advance notice (60 days) to Maryland's Insurance Commissioner before terminating provider contracts that materially impact patient access, and to update their access plans within 5 business days after termination. This bill directly affects insured patients who rely on specific providers and health insurance carriers operating in Maryland. The key change is creating a standardized 90-day special enrollment period for affected patients to transition care, improving transparency during network changes.
