EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1380*
HOUSE BILL 1380
J1, J3 5lr2113
CF SB 676
By: Delegates Pena–Melnyk, Acevero, Addison, Bagnall, Boyce, Cullison, Davis,
Harrison, Lehman, Patterson, Taveras, Terrasa, and Wilson Wilson,
Bhandari, Guzzone, Hill, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez, Martinez,
Rosenberg, White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 26, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Care Facilities – Hospitals and Freestanding Birthing Centers – 2
Perinatal Care Standards 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health, in coordination with 4
the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, to adopt 5
regulations establishing minimum perinatal care standards for certain hospitals 6
that meet or exceed the Maryland Perinatal System Standards; requiring certain 7
hospitals and freestanding birthing centers, as a condition of licensure, to comply 8
with certain minimum perinatal care standards; and generally relating to standards 9
of care for hospitals and freestanding birthing centers. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 19–319(a) and 19–3B–02(a) and (b) 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 15
BY adding to 16
Article – Health – General 17
Section 19–319(j) and 19–3B–03(a)(1)(ii)9. 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20 2 HOUSE BILL 1380
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
Article – Health – General 2
Section 19–3B–03(a)(1)(ii)8. and 9. 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 5
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7
Article – Health – General 8
19–319. 9
(a) To qualify for a license, an applicant and the hospital or related institution to 10
be operated shall meet the requirements of this section. 11
(J) (1) THE DEPARTMENT , IN COORDINATION WITH THE MARYLAND 12
INSTITUTE FO R EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS, SHALL ADOPT 13
REGULATIONS ESTABLIS HING MINIMUM PERINAT AL CARE STANDARDS TH AT MEET 14
OR EXCEED THE MARYLAND PERINATAL SYSTEM STANDARDS FOR EACH HO SPITAL 15
THAT PROVIDES OBSTET RICAL SERVICES. 16
(2) EACH HOSPITAL THAT PR OVIDES OBSTETRICAL SERVICES SHALL 17
COMPLY WITH THE PERI NATAL CARE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE 18
REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A S A 19
CONDITION OF LICENSU RE. 20
19–3B–02. 21
(a) A freestanding ambulatory care facility may not operate in the State unless 22
the Secretary has granted the facility a license. 23
(b) The Secretary shall issue a license to an applicant that meets the 24
requirements of this subtitle and all applicable regulations adopted by the Secretary. 25
19–3B–03. 26
(a) (1) After consultation with representatives of payors, health care 27
practitioners, and freestanding ambulatory care facilities, the Secretary shall by regulation 28
establish: 29
(ii) Standards to ensure quality of care and patient safety that shall 30
include: 31
HOUSE BILL 1380 3
8. The use of ultrasound imaging in a freestanding birthing 1
center; [and] 2
9. MINIMUM PERINATAL CAR E STANDARDS FOR A 3
FREESTANDING BIRTHIN G CENTER THAT MEET O R EXCEED THE MARYLAND 4
PERINATAL SYSTEM STANDARDS THAT A FREE STANDING BIRTHING CE NTER SHALL 5
MEET AS A CONDITION OF LICENSU RE; AND 6
[9.] 10. Any other procedures that the Secretary considers 7
necessary for quality of care and patient safety. 8
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of 9
Health shall adopt the regulations required under §§ 19–319(j)(1) and 19–3B–03(a)(1)(ii)9 10
of the Heath – General Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, on or before October 1, 11
2026. 12
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 13
October 1, 2025. 14
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.