This bill requires health insurers and health plans in Maryland to cover salpingectomy (surgery to remove fallopian tubes) specifically for ovarian cancer prevention as a standard benefit, with no out-of-pocket costs like copays or deductibles for patients. It applies to all health insurance policies issued in Maryland after January 1, 2027, directly affecting women who might choose this preventive surgery and the insurers providing coverage. The key provision bans cost-sharing for this procedure, except when an individual is enrolled in a high-deductible health plan meeting federal criteria. This ensures access to a proven preventive measure without financial barriers for most patients.
SB 504 prohibits businesses from selling consumer personal data to buyers who intend to use it for immigration enforcement. It defines "sensitive data" to include immigration status, racial origin, health information, and sexual orientation, requiring businesses to handle such data more carefully. The bill also mandates public record custodians to prevent unauthorized disclosure - especially for immigration enforcement - and requires message switching systems to implement access controls. These changes aim to strengthen privacy protections for Maryland residents while modifying existing data privacy laws in the state code.
SB 866 requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations in Maryland to display warning icons next to menu items exceeding 1,150mg sodium or 25mg added sugars per serving, starting January 1, 2028. The Maryland Department of Health must create these icons and guidelines by January 1, 2027, and run a public education campaign during 2027 to explain compliance. The bill directly affects large chain restaurants by mandating clear labeling of high-sodium and high-sugar menu items. It defines "high sodium" as 1,150mg per serving and "high added sugars" as 25mg per serving for labeling purposes.
HB 222 requires Maryland public schools and colleges to update policies and education programs to address opioid overdoses. It mandates schools to store naloxone, allow authorized staff and students to possess it, and provide liability protection for good-faith use during overdoses. The bill also adds naloxone's life-saving role to K-12 drug prevention curricula (starting in third grade) and requires annual parent notifications about school naloxone policies. Additionally, schools must report overdose incidents requiring naloxone use to the State Department. This affects all public K-12 schools and state-funded colleges.
SB 348 requires hospitals and freestanding birthing centers in Maryland to provide specific postpartum support to individuals who have experienced high-risk pregnancies. It mandates that facilities complete referral forms for local health departments, provide resources about postpartum complications (including cardiovascular conditions, chronic disease, substance misuse, and mental health), and call birthing parents 24 to 72 hours after discharge to assess their status. The bill also requires annual reports from health departments detailing referrals made through this process. These provisions apply to all facilities delivering newborns following high-risk pregnancies and take effect October 1, 2026.
SB 489 modifies Maryland's licensing rules for physicians trained at international medical schools. It exempts applicants who provide evidence of completing two years of postgraduate training accredited by ACGME-I or another board-recognized body from standard educational requirements. These physicians would be permitted to practice medicine only during their initial license term under mandatory supervision, as specified by the Board. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting international medical graduates meeting these specific training criteria.
This Maryland bill expands protections against noncompete and conflict of interest clauses by applying existing restrictions to employees of companies that move their majority of workers or headquarters out of the state. The law makes such restrictive clauses automatically unenforceable for workers earning at or below 150% of the state minimum wage, those in licensed health occupations, and direct patient care roles earning up to $350,000 annually. For higher-paid health care workers, the bill maintains current limits by capping noncompete agreements to one year and restricting geographic restrictions to within 10 miles of their primary workplace. Employers of these health care employees must also notify patients if a former employee relocates to a new practice location. The changes apply only to employment contracts signed on or after October 1, 2026.
SB 515 requires Maryland's Health Services Cost Review Commission to consider all operational costs incurred by health facilities - including expenses for physicians and other providers without corresponding billing revenue - when setting hospital rates. This affects hospitals and health facilities operating under Maryland's all-payer model, as the Commission must now factor in full costs during rate reviews. The bill amends existing law to mandate that the Commission evaluate facility financial health and certify rates based on complete cost accounting, rather than excluding certain expenses. This change ensures rates more accurately reflect actual facility operations, including costs for professional services that previously weren't fully counted.
HB 813 authorizes Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) to cover comprehensive obesity treatment, including intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and FDA-approved weight management medications, starting January 1, 2027. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to notify Medicaid recipients if it chooses to provide this coverage and mandates a report to the legislature by November 1, 2027, on implementation progress. This directly affects Medicaid recipients with obesity by expanding covered treatments beyond current scope. The program may use standard utilization management processes (like for other conditions) to assess medical necessity but is not required to offer the coverage.
SB 90 adds hypertension to Maryland's list of occupational diseases presumed to be work-related for specific emergency responders. It makes firefighters, fire fighting instructors, rescue squad members, advanced life support unit members, and State Fire Marshal personnel eligible for workers' compensation benefits if they have hypertension diagnosed by a provider, experience it for at least 90 consecutive days, have at least 2 years of cumulative service in those roles, and are currently employed in those positions. This creates a legal presumption that the hypertension is work-related, eliminating the need to prove direct causation, while clarifying that individuals cannot receive both workers' compensation and disability retirement benefits for the same hypertension condition. The bill takes effect October 1, 2026.
