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.
*hb0718*
HOUSE BILL 718
J5, J1, C3 5lr2585
By: Delegates Rosenberg and Pena–Melnyk, Pena–Melnyk, Alston, Bagnall,
Bhandari, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez,
Martinez, Ross, Taveras, White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2025
Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission – Established 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection 3
Commission to monitor and assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes 4
to specified health care programs and to provide recommendations for State and local 5
action to protect the access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage; 6
and generally relating to the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection 7
Commission. 8
Preamble 9
WHEREAS, The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has 10
enabled more than 600,000 Maryland residents to gain access to quality and affordable 11
health insurance coverage since its implementation, with the State’s uninsured rate 12
dropping from approximately 11% in 2010 to approximately 6% in 2024; and 13
WHEREAS, Approximately 6% of Maryland residents remain uninsured, with 14
disparities in coverage rates particularly affecting communities of color and low–income 15
households; and 16
WHEREAS, Changes to the ACA, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 17
Equity Act (MHPAEA), Medicaid, or Medicare could significantly impact health care access 18
and affordability for Maryland residents; and 19 2 HOUSE BILL 718
WHEREAS, It is estimated that a repeal of the ACA may result in over 30 million 1
individuals becoming uninsured in the United States; and 2
WHEREAS, In Maryland, more than 600,000 people may become uninsured in the 3
aftermath of a repeal of the ACA; and 4
WHEREAS, Millions of American seniors, including thousands of Maryland seniors, 5
could incur substantially higher health care costs following a repeal or weakening of the 6
ACA or Medicare; and 7
WHEREAS, Recent federal policy changes and market dynamics have created 8
uncertainty in the health care landscape, potentially affecting the stability of Maryland’s 9
insurance markets and health care delivery systems; and 10
WHEREAS, The COVID –19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of 11
maintaining robust health care infrastructure and ensuring widespread access to 12
affordable health coverage; and 13
WHEREAS, It is prudent for Maryland to monitor and mit igate these negative 14
effects of a repeal or weakening of the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, or Medicare and to protect 15
public health by recommending and implementing solutions in the event of a broad–scale 16
loss of health coverage; now, therefore, 17
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
That: 19
(a) (1) In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
(2) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 21
(3) “MHPAEA” means the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 22
Equity Act. 23
(b) There is a Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. 24
(c) The Commission consists of the following members: 25
(1) three members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President 26
of the Senate; 27
(2) three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 28
the House; 29
(3) the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s 30
designee; 31
HOUSE BILL 718 3
(4) the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commis sioner’s 1
designee; 2
(5) the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, 3
or the Executive Director’s designee; 4
(6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, or the 5
Executive Director’s designee; 6
(5) (7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; and 7
(6) (8) the following members: 8
(i) one representative of the Maryland Hospital Association, 9
designated by the President of the Association; 10
(ii) one representative of a managed care organization, appointed 11
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 12
(iii) one consumer of health care services, appointed jointly by the 13
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 14
(iv) one representative of a health insurance carrier, appointed 15
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 16
(v) one representative who is an employer, appointed by the 17
Governor; 18
(vi) one representative of the nursing home industry, appointed by 19
the Governor; 20
(vii) one representative of MedChi, designated by the Chief Executive 21
Officer of MedChi; 22
(viii) one representative of behavioral health providers, appointed 23
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 24
(ix) two members of the public: 25
1. one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the President of 26
the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and 27
2. one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; 28
(x) one representative of a group model health maintenance 29
organization that participates in the individual market, appointed by the Governor; and 30
4 HOUSE BILL 718
(xi) one representative of the League of Life and Health Insurers of 1
Maryland, designated by the President of the League. 2
(d) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall designate a 3
member who is a Senator and a member who is a Delegate, respectively, to serve as cochairs 4
of the Commission. 5
(e) The Department of Legislative Services, the Maryland Department of Health, 6
and the Maryland Insurance Administration jointly shall provide staff for the Commission. 7
(f) A member of the Commission: 8
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 9
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 10
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 11
(g) (1) The Commission shall: 12
(i) monitor potential and actual federal changes to the ACA, 13
MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 14
Maryland All–Payer Model; 15
(ii) assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes to the 16
ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 17
Maryland All–Payer Model; and 18
(iii) provide recommendations for State and local action to protect 19
access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage. 20
(2) The duties of the Commission include: 21
(i) assessing the current and potential adverse effects of the loss of 22
health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State resulting from 23
changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, 24
Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; 25
(ii) estimating the costs to the State and State residents of adverse 26
effects from potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 27
Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 28
loss of health coverage; 29
(iii) examining measures that may prevent or mitigate the adverse 30
effects of potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 31
Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 32
loss of health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State; 33
HOUSE BILL 718 5
(iv) making recommendations for laws that: 1
1. may be warranted to minimize the adverse effects 2
associated with potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the 3
Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; and 4
2. will assist residents in obtaining and maintaining 5
affordable health coverage; and 6
(v) identifying potential funding sources for recommended laws, as 7
necessary. 8
(h) The Commission may: 9
(1) hold public meetings across the State to carry out the duties of the 10
Commission; and 11
(2) convene workgroups to solicit input from stakeholders. 12
(i) On or before December 31 each year, the Commission shall submit a report on 13
its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and, 14
in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 15
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 16
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 17
30, 2029, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 18
of no further force and effect. 19
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.