Healthcare

signed · Maryland · House of Delegates May 26, 2026

HB 811: Aging-in-Place Programs - Grants - Multigenerational Third Places ( Village Multigenerational Third Places Act)

HB 811 authorizes Maryland's Department of Aging to provide grants to nonprofit organizations and area agencies on aging. These grants support social connection for seniors in aging-in-place programs by funding events or gatherings at community spaces (called "multigenerational third places") where people of all ages can interact. The bill specifically requires 20% of the annual $100,000 minimum grant funding to support "senior villages" - local nonprofit organizations that foster social connections through member-driven activities and neighbor assistance. It directly affects seniors seeking community engagement, nonprofit organizations operating senior villages, and area agencies on aging managing grant applications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds community social programs for seniors (via 'senior villages') to improve social connection, directly supporting mental health and public health initiatives under healthcare policies.85% confidence

Tags Seniors

passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Apr 13, 2026

HB 1602: Counties - No-Cost Preventive Cancer Screenings for Volunteer and Retired Volunteer Firefighters

This bill requires Maryland counties with volunteer fire companies to provide no-cost preventive cancer screenings to volunteer firefighters, as defined by the bill. Volunteer fire companies must maintain and annually submit a list of their volunteer firefighters to the county, which must then keep this list on file. Counties can meet this requirement by either offering a free annual health exam including cancer screenings or applying for a specific grant to fund advanced screening technologies like multi-cancer blood tests. The law applies to all counties with volunteer fire companies and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates free cancer screenings for firefighters, expanding preventive healthcare access without cost barriers for a high-risk group.95% confidence

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2026

HB 922: Behavioral Health Administration - Behavioral Health Program Relocation - Regulations

HB 922 requires the Behavioral Health Administration to update regulations to simplify the relocation process for existing behavioral health programs seeking to move to new locations. The bill adds specific provisions including an expedited approval process separate from new program applications, allowing programs to reuse unchanged prior documentation, and permitting temporary practice at a new site once life safety standards are met. It also mandates the Administration to consider a program’s past regulatory compliance to streamline reviews and establish clear timelines for relocation approvals. This change directly affects behavioral health programs needing to relocate and the Behavioral Health Administration, which must implement these rules by October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines behavioral health program relocations, improving access to mental health services through expedited processes and reduced regulatory barriers for existing programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 11, 2026

HB 1119: Health Occupations - Social Workers - Scopes of Practice

HB 1119 amends Maryland's Health Occupations code to clarify and update the scopes of practice for licensed social workers. It specifically allows licensed certified social workers-clinical (section 19-101(h)) to practice independently without supervision, removing a prior requirement. The bill adds permitted activities to "practice social work," including psychosocial assessment and evaluation, case management, and care coordination. These changes directly affect all licensed social workers in Maryland, defining their permitted duties based on their specific license category (bachelor's, master's, certified, or clinical).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves supervision requirement for clinical social workers and expands permitted activities (psychosocial assessments, care coordination), directly strengthening mental health service delivery and provider autonomy.95% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 494: Maryland Health Care Commission - Certificates of Need and Material Change Transactions

SB 494 modifies Maryland's health care certificate of need rules by repealing an exemption that previously allowed certain hospital mergers to bypass review. It requires health care providers (including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and hospices) to notify the Maryland Health Care Commission and the public before making "material change transactions" like major mergers or ownership shifts exceeding 25% of a facility. The bill establishes a public interest review process with specific criteria to evaluate such transactions, mandates the Commission to act on approvals or denials within a set timeframe, and updates related statutes to reflect these changes. This directly affects health care entities seeking to merge or restructure services within the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRepeals exemption for hospital mergers, requiring public review of material changes to protect public interest in healthcare transactions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 3, 2026

HB 1045: Prescription Drug Monitoring Program - Data Disclosure to Federal Law Enforcement - Limitation

HB 1045 modifies Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) by adding a restriction on sharing prescription data with federal law enforcement. Specifically, it amends Section 21-2A-06(b)(4) of the Maryland Annotated Code to prohibit disclosure to federal agencies unless the data does not involve "sensitive health services" designated by the new Protected Health Care Commission. This Commission, established under Section 4-310, will identify health services (like reproductive care) where data sharing could risk patient safety or privacy. The bill directly affects healthcare providers and patients whose data might be monitored, particularly for sensitive health services, by requiring a review before federal disclosure.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRestricts federal data sharing for sensitive health services (e.g., reproductive care), protecting patient privacy and rights under healthcare services as defined in the bill.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRestricts federal disclosure of sensitive health data under PDMP, strengthening data privacy protections for health information.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SB 586: Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program - Establishment

SB 586 establishes Maryland's Community Eligibility Provision Expansion Program within the State Department of Education. The program provides state funding to eligible public schools participating in the federal child nutrition program, covering the difference between federal "paid" and "free" meal reimbursement rates (set annually by the USDA). This directly affects high-poverty schools (with 25%+ students qualifying for free meals) by supplementing federal funds without replacing them. The bill mandates $10 million annually starting in fiscal year 2028, requires schools to report on meal debt and participation reasons, and directs the Department to distribute funds based on poverty concentration and geographic diversity.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state funding to supplement federal child nutrition program for high-poverty schools, increasing budget allocation for education without replacing federal funds.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides state funding to supplement federal meal reimbursements for high-poverty schools (25%+ qualifying for free meals), increasing access to nutrition programs and supporting school operations.92% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds school meal program for high-poverty schools, directly supporting a public health initiative (child nutrition) under healthcare topic. Expands state funding for public health program without replacing federal support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Funding Student Health

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died · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 13, 2026

HB 1440: Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Coverage and Utilization Review - Drugs Reviewed by the Prescription Drug Affordability Board

HB 1440 prevents Medicaid plans and certain health insurers from requiring extra approval steps (like prior authorization) or limiting coverage for prescription drugs reviewed by Maryland's Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). It specifically applies when the PDAB hasn't determined a drug causes cost concerns, has made a policy recommendation, or set a payment limit for the drug. This directly affects patients using these medications by reducing barriers to accessing covered drugs. The bill updates Maryland's health insurance and Medicaid laws to enforce these restrictions on managed care organizations and insurers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePrevents prior authorization barriers for PDAB-reviewed drugs, improving patient access to covered medications without cost concerns or policy limits.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 13, 2026

HB 1556: Business Regulation - Sugary Beverage Advertisements - Warning Labels

HB 1556 requires businesses to include a specific health warning label on advertisements for sugary beverages placed on state, county, or municipal property. The label, which must be in bold, boxed, and highly visible, states: "WARNING: DRINKING BEVERAGES WITH ADDED SUGAR CAN CONTRIBUTE TO OBESITY, TYPE 2 DIABETES, AND TOOTH DECAY. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR CHILDREN. MARYLAND STATE HEALTH WARNING." This applies to beverages containing added sugars or nonnutritive sweeteners (like aspartame or sucralose), excluding plain sugar. Violations could result in daily civil penalties up to $1,000, effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates health warnings linking sugary drinks to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay - a preventive public health measure aligning with healthcare protection goals.95% confidence

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 19, 2026

HB 886: Certified Peer Recovery Specialists - Coverage Under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance and Workgroup on Certification

HB 886 requires Maryland's Medicaid program (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and certain health insurers to cover services provided by certified peer recovery specialists starting January 1, 2027. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries, health insurance plans, and certified peer recovery specialists who provide mental health or substance use recovery support. The bill mandates coverage for these services in any setting and creates a workgroup to improve certification processes for specialists. The workgroup, convened by the Maryland Department of Health, must report on streamlining certification by 2026. This policy change ensures standardized coverage for a specific type of recovery support service under state health programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid/insurers to cover peer recovery specialist services, expanding mental health access under Medicaid, directly advancing healthcare coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Mental Health Substance Abuse

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