EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1331*
HOUSE BILL 1331
J5 4lr2664
By: Delegate Taveras
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2024
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Insurance – Massage Therapy – Required Coverage and Prohibited Cost 2
Sharing 3
FOR the purpose of requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health 4
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for massage therapy; prohibiting the 5
insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from 6
imposing a copayment, coinsurance, or deductible requirement on coverage for 7
massage therapy; and generally relating to health insurance and massage therapy. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 9
Article – Health Occupations 10
Section 6–101(a) and (f) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
BY adding to 14
Article – Insurance 15
Section 15–861 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Health Occupations 21
6–101. 22
(a) In this title the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
2 HOUSE BILL 1331
(f) (1) “Massage therapy” means the use of manual techniques on soft tissues 1
of the human body including stroking, kneading, tapping, stretching, compression, 2
vibration, and friction, with or without the aid of heat limited to hot packs and heating 3
pads, cold water, or nonlegend topical applications, for the purpose of improving circulation, 4
enhancing muscle relaxation, relieving muscular pain, reducing stress, or promoting health 5
and well–being. 6
(2) “Massage therapy” includes hands–on application, consisting of 7
pressure or movement on an individual, to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or 8
energetic field of the human body if this practice includes use of the manual techniques set 9
forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection. 10
(3) “Massage therapy” does not include: 11
(i) The diagnosis of illness, disease, or injury; 12
(ii) The adjustment, manipulation, or mobilization of any of the 13
articulations of the osseous structures of the human body or spine; or 14
(iii) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the laying 15
on of hands, consisting of pressure or movement on an individual who is fully clothed, 16
except for footwear, to specifically affect the electromagnetic energy or energetic field of the 17
human body. 18
(4) The provisions of paragraph (3) of this subsection do not preclude the 19
application of the modalities described in paragraph (1) of this subsection to an individual 20
who has an injury. 21
Article – Insurance 22
15–861. 23
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “MASSAGE THERAPY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 24
6–101 OF THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 25
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 26
(1) INSURERS AND NONPROF IT HEALTH SERVICE PL ANS THAT 27
PROVIDE HOSPITAL , MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GR OUPS 28
ON AN EXPENSE–INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICIES OR 29
CONTRACTS THAT ARE I SSUED OR DELIVERED I N THE STATE; AND 30
(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATIONS THAT PR OVIDE 31
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GR OUPS UNDER 32
CONTRACTS THAT AR E ISSUED OR DELIVERE D IN THE STATE. 33
HOUSE BILL 1331 3
(C) (1) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION: 1
(I) SHALL PROVIDE COVERA GE FOR MASSAGE THERAPY ; AND 2
(II) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , MAY 3
NOT IMPOSE A COPAYME NT, COINSURANCE , OR DEDUCTIBLE REQUIR EMENT ON 4
COVERAGE FOR MASSAGE THERAPY . 5
(2) IF AN INSURED OR ENRO LLEE IS COVERED UNDE R A 6
HIGH–DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PL AN, AS DEFINED IN 26 U.S.C. § 223, AN ENTITY 7
SUBJECT TO THIS SECT ION MAY SUBJECT MASSAGE THER APY TO THE DEDUCTIBL E 8
REQUIREMENT OF THE H IGH–DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PL AN. 9
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall apply to all 10
policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or 11
after January 1, 2025. 12
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
January 1, 2025. 14