Rep. Kathy Szeliga

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 1093 requires health insurance companies (carriers) to change how they manage provider panels. It removes application fees for providers seeking panel inclusion, mandates specific notice timelines for denials, and requires carriers to update provider directories more frequently. The bill also expands the types of providers carriers cannot restrict (like mental health specialists) and changes rules for reimbursing patients for care from nonparticipating providers. These changes directly affect health insurance companies, doctors/hospitals seeking panel access, and patients navigating provider networks.

Maddy summaryHB 1523 prohibits retailers from selling, distributing, advertising, or exposing for sale "unauthorized consumable products," defined as tianeptine products and specific kratom products (as outlined in Maryland Health law). It directly affects businesses like stores, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and food/drink companies that handle these products. The bill authorizes the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission to seize, confiscate, or destroy such products and requires the Maryland Department of Health to report related changes to the Commission. These changes amend enforcement provisions to strengthen oversight of products not legally permitted under existing cannabis and health regulations.

Maddy summaryHB 1377 establishes a 18-month pilot program to redirect unused, unopened prescription drugs to a state repository program. It requires participating pharmacies (repositories) to collect eligible medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Days, package them properly, and transfer them to designated drop-off sites for distribution to eligible patients - while sending controlled substances directly to the DEA. The program aims to expand medication access for underserved communities, reduce pharmaceutical waste, and ensure drug safety through collaboration between Maryland’s Secretary of Health and the federal DEA. The pilot runs from July 2026 through December 2027, with mandatory reporting on collected medications by October 1, 2027.

Maddy summaryHB 1376 requires Maryland's Medicaid (Maryland Medical Assistance Program) and Children's Health Program to provide a review within 3 business days for transfer requests to special pediatric hospitals when requested by the hospital or referring provider. It mandates retrospective reviews if a transfer is denied as "not medically necessary," with providers reimbursed for "administrative days" (days a patient remains without transfer) during the review process. The bill directly affects special pediatric hospitals - facilities serving children under 22 or those 2+ years old with co-occurring physical/behavioral health conditions - and their referring providers. Key provisions include eliminating prior authorization requirements for transfers while establishing strict timelines and reimbursement for administrative delays during appeals. This bill updates existing Medicaid and insurance rules to streamline transfers to specialized pediatric care facilities.

Maddy summaryHB 1181 amends Maryland's Family Law to streamline voluntary placement agreements for children with developmental disabilities or mental illnesses in out-of-home care. The bill requires local departments to schedule an assessment meeting with families and providers within 5 business days of receiving a request, and issue a written eligibility decision within another 5 business days. It clarifies that local departments cannot seek legal custody solely to obtain treatment for these children, while allowing placements to exceed 180 days if a juvenile court finds continued placement is in the child's best interest. These changes aim to reduce current delays (often 60-90 days) that contribute to extended hospital stays and family distress.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits placing children in unlicensed settings (such as hotels, motels, or nonresidential offices) under Maryland's out-of-home placement program for foster care, with limited exceptions for kinship caregivers or parental placements. It creates a new Child and Youth Placement Review Panel within the Governor’s Office to oversee placements and requires the Placement Manager to convene a Rapid Response Team for urgent cases. The bill also establishes an Advisory Council to improve Maryland’s system of care for children and families and modifies hospital overstay protocols for pediatric patients. These changes directly affect children in foster care, hospitals, and the agencies managing their care, aiming to ensure safer, licensed placements.

Maddy summaryHB 939 extends the deadline for filing birth certificates in Maryland from 5 to 12 calendar days after a birth. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, attending medical professionals, and parents (in cases without an attending clinician), requiring them to complete and submit the certificate within the new timeframe. The bill amends Maryland health code sections to update these filing deadlines for births occurring in institutions, outside institutions, and on common carriers (like planes or ships). The key change is the specific increase in the filing period, with no other policy alterations described in the text.

Maddy summaryHB 1015 (Ralph's Act) ensures continuity of developmental disability services for individuals who recently moved to Maryland after losing their primary caregiver in another state. It directly affects people who received home- and community-based waiver services in another state for the past 10 years and relocated to live with immediate family following the death or incapacitation of their former caretaker. The bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to create an expedited 30-day process to determine eligibility, allows pre-residency eligibility assessments, and ensures those approved receive services through priority categories matching their prior state's support. This policy change prevents service disruptions during relocation transitions.

Maddy summaryHB 1483 repeals Maryland's requirement for out-of-state clinical counselors to obtain a temporary telehealth license. It allows licensed counselors from other states to provide telehealth counseling to clients who relocated to Maryland (or returned after relocating), for up to six months, if they already had an established client-counselor relationship before the move. This exempts these counselors from Maryland's standard licensure rules during the six-month continuity period, but only for existing clients who relocated - not for new clients. The bill does not change regular licensing requirements for ongoing practice in Maryland.