Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB718 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3		EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4		[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5		Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6	6		Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7	7		amendment.
8		-	Italics indicate opposite chamber/conference committee amendments.
9	8		hb0718
10	9
11	10		HOUSE BILL 718
12		-	J5, J1, C3 (5lr2585)
13		-	ENROLLED BILL
14		-	— Health and Government Operations/Finance —
15		-	Introduced by Delegates Rosenberg and Pena–Melnyk, Pena–Melnyk, Alston,
16		-	Bagnall, Bhandari, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez,
	11	+	J5, J1, C3 5lr2585
	12	+
	13	+	By: Delegates Rosenberg and Pena–Melnyk, Pena–Melnyk, Alston, Bagnall,
	14	+	Bhandari, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, S. Johnson, Kaiser, Kerr, Lopez,
17	15		Martinez, Ross, Taveras, White Holland, Woods, and Woorman
18		-
19		-	Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
20		-
21		-	_______________________________________________
22		-	Proofreader.
23		-	_______________________________________________
24		-	Proofreader.
25		-
26		-	Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
27		-
28		-	_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
29		-
30		-	______________________________________________
31		-	Speaker.
	16	+	Introduced and read first time: January 27, 2025
	17	+	Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
	18	+	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
	19	+	House action: Adopted
	20	+	Read second time: February 27, 2025
32	21
33	22		CHAPTER ______
34	23
35	24		AN ACT concerning 1
36	25
37	26		Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission – Established 2
38	27
39	28		FOR the purpose of establishing the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection 3
40	29		Commission to monitor and assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes 4
41	30		to specified health care programs and to provide recommendations for State and local 5
42	31		action to protect the access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage; 6
43	32		and generally relating to the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection 7
44	33		Commission. 8
45	34
46	35		Preamble 9
47	36
48	37		WHEREAS, The federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has 10
49		-	enabled more than 600,000 Maryland residents to gain access to quality and affordable 11 2 HOUSE BILL 718
	38	+	enabled more than 600,000 Maryland residents to gain access to quality and affordable 11
	39	+	health insurance coverage since its implementation, with the State’s uninsured rate 12
	40	+	dropping from approximately 11% in 2010 to approximately 6% in 2024; and 13
50	41
	42	+	WHEREAS, Approximately 6% of Maryland residents remain uninsured, with 14
	43	+	disparities in coverage rates particularly affecting communities of color and low–income 15
	44	+	households; and 16
51	45
52		-	health insurance coverage since its implementation, with the State’s uninsured rate 1
53		-	dropping from approximately 11% in 2010 to approximately 6% in 2024; and 2
54		-
55		-	WHEREAS, Approximately 6% of Maryland residents remain uninsured, with 3
56		-	disparities in coverage rates particularly affecting communities of color and low–income 4
57		-	households; and 5
58		-
59		-	WHEREAS, Changes to the ACA, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 6
60		-	Equity Act (MHPAEA), Medicaid, or Medicare could significantly impact health care access 7
61		-	and affordability for Maryland residents; and 8
62		-
63		-	WHEREAS, It is estimated that a repeal of the ACA may result in over 30 million 9
64		-	individuals becoming uninsured in the United States; and 10
65		-
66		-	WHEREAS, In Maryland, more than 600,000 people may become uninsured in the 11
67		-	aftermath of a repeal of the ACA; and 12
68		-
69		-	WHEREAS, Millions of American seniors, including thousands of Maryland seniors, 13
70		-	could incur substantially higher health care costs following a repeal or weakening of the 14
71		-	ACA or Medicare; and 15
72		-
73		-	WHEREAS, Recent federal policy changes and market dynamics have created 16
74		-	uncertainty in the health care landscape, potentially affecting the stability of Maryland’s 17
75		-	insurance markets and health care delivery systems; and 18
76		-
77		-	WHEREAS, The COVID –19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of 19
78		-	maintaining robust health care infrastructure and ensuring widespread access to 20
79		-	affordable health coverage; and 21
80		-
81		-	WHEREAS, It is prudent for Maryland to monitor and mitigate these negative 22
82		-	effects of a repeal or weakening of the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, or Medicare and to protect 23
83		-	public health by recommending and implementing solutions in the event of a broad–scale 24
84		-	loss of health coverage; now, therefore, 25
85		-
86		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
87		-	That: 27
88		-
89		-	(a) (1) In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated. 28
90		-
91		-	(2) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 29
92		-
93		-	(3) “MHPAEA” means the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 30
94		-	Equity Act. 31
95		-
96		-	(b) There is a Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. 32
97		-
98		-	(c) The Commission consists of the following members: 33 HOUSE BILL 718 3
	46	+	WHEREAS, Changes to the ACA, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 17
	47	+	Equity Act (MHPAEA), Medicaid, or Medicare could significantly impact health care access 18
	48	+	and affordability for Maryland residents; and 19 2 HOUSE BILL 718
99	49
100	50
101	51
102		-	~~(1) three members~~ of the ~~Senate of Maryland,~~ ~~appointed by the President~~ 1
103		-	of the ~~Senate~~; 2
	52	+	WHEREAS, It is estimated that a repeal of the ACA may result in over 30 million 1
	53	+	individuals becoming uninsured in the United States; and 2
104	54
105		-	~~(2) three members of~~ the ~~House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of~~ 3
106		-	the ~~House~~; 4
	55	+	WHEREAS, In Maryland, more than 600,000 people may become uninsured in the 3
	56	+	aftermath of a repeal of the ACA; and 4
107	57
108		-	(3) the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s 5
109		-	designee; 6
	58	+	WHEREAS, Millions of American seniors, including thousands of Maryland seniors, 5
	59	+	could incur substantially higher health care costs following a repeal or weakening of the 6
	60	+	ACA or Medicare; and 7
110	61
111		-	(4) the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner’s 7
112		-	designee; 8
	62	+	WHEREAS, Recent federal policy changes and market dynamics have created 8
	63	+	uncertainty in the health care landscape, potentially affecting the stability of Maryland’s 9
	64	+	insurance markets and health care delivery systems; and 10
113	65
114		-	(5) the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, 9
115		-	or the Executive Director’s designee; 10
	66	+	WHEREAS, The COVID –19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of 11
	67	+	maintaining robust health care infrastructure and ensuring widespread access to 12
	68	+	affordable health coverage; and 13
116	69
117		-	(6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, or the 11
118		-	Executive Director’s designee; 12
	70	+	WHEREAS, It is prudent for Maryland to monitor and mit igate these negative 14
	71	+	effects of a repeal or weakening of the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, or Medicare and to protect 15
	72	+	public health by recommending and implementing solutions in the event of a broad–scale 16
	73	+	loss of health coverage; now, therefore, 17
119	74
120		-	(5) (7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; and 13
	75	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 18
	76	+	That: 19
121	77
122		-	(6) (8) the following ~~members: 14~~
	78	+	(a) (1) In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated. 20
123	79
124		-	(i) one representative of the Maryland Hospita l Association, 15
125		-	designated by the President of the Association; 16
	80	+	(2) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 21
126	81
127		-	(ii) ~~one representative of a managed care organization,~~ ~~appointed 17~~
128		-	~~jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 18~~
	82	+	(3) “MHPAEA” means the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 22
	83	+	Equity Act. 23
129	84
130		-	(iii) one consumer of health care services, appointed jointly by the 19
131		-	President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 20
	85	+	(b) There is a Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. 24
132	86
133		-	(iv) one representative of a health insurance carrier, appointed 21
134		-	jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 22
	87	+	(c) The Commission consists of the following members: 25
135	88
136		-	(v) ~~one representative who is an employer~~, appointed by the 23
137		-	~~Governor~~; 24
	89	+	(1) three members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President 26
	90	+	of the Senate; 27
138	91
139		-	(vi) ~~one representative~~ of the ~~nursing home industry~~, appointed by 25
140		-	the ~~Governor~~; 26
	92	+	(2) three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 28
	93	+	the House; 29
141	94
142		-	(vii) one representative of MedChi, designated by the Chief Executive 27
143		-	Officer of MedChi; 28
	95	+	(3) the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s 30
	96	+	designee; 31
	97	+	HOUSE BILL 718 3
144	98
145		-	(viii) one representative of behavioral health providers, appointed 29
146		-	jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 30
	99	+
	100	+	(4) the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commis sioner’s 1
	101	+	designee; 2
	102	+
	103	+	(5) the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, 3
	104	+	or the Executive Director’s designee; 4
	105	+
	106	+	(6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, or the 5
	107	+	Executive Director’s designee; 6
	108	+
	109	+	(5) (7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; and 7
	110	+
	111	+	(6) (8) the following members: 8
	112	+
	113	+	(i) one representative of the Maryland Hospital Association, 9
	114	+	designated by the President of the Association; 10
	115	+
	116	+	(ii) one representative of a managed care organization, appointed 11
	117	+	jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 12
	118	+
	119	+	(iii) one consumer of health care services, appointed jointly by the 13
	120	+	President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 14
	121	+
	122	+	(iv) one representative of a health insurance carrier, appointed 15
	123	+	jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 16
	124	+
	125	+	(v) one representative who is an employer, appointed by the 17
	126	+	Governor; 18
	127	+
	128	+	(vi) one representative of the nursing home industry, appointed by 19
	129	+	the Governor; 20
	130	+
	131	+	(vii) one representative of MedChi, designated by the Chief Executive 21
	132	+	Officer of MedChi; 22
	133	+
	134	+	(viii) one representative of behavioral health providers, appointed 23
	135	+	jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 24
	136	+
	137	+	(ix) two members of the public: 25
	138	+
	139	+	1. one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the President of 26
	140	+	the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and 27
	141	+
	142	+	2. one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; 28
	143	+
	144	+	(x) one representative of a group model health maintenance 29
	145	+	organization that participates in the individual market, appointed by the Governor; and 30
147	146		4 HOUSE BILL 718
148	147
149	148
150		-	(ix) two members of the public: 1
	149	+	(xi) one representative of the League of Life and Health Insurers of 1
	150	+	Maryland, designated by the President of the League. 2
151	151
152		-	1. one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the President of 2
153		-	the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and 3
	152	+	(d) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall designate a 3
	153	+	member who is a Senator and a member who is a Delegate, respectively, to serve as cochairs 4
	154	+	of the Commission. 5
154	155
155		-	2. one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; 4
	156	+	(e) The Department of Legislative Services, the Maryland Department of Health, 6
	157	+	and the Maryland Insurance Administration jointly shall provide staff for the Commission. 7
156	158
157		-	(x) one representative of a group model health maintenance 5
158		-	organization that participates in the individual market, appointed by the Governor; and 6
	159	+	(f) A member of the Commission: 8
159	160
160		-	(xi) one representative of the League of Life and Health Insurers of 7
161		-	Maryland, designated by the President of the League; 8
	161	+	(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 9
162	162
163		-	(~~xii~~) ~~one representative of~~ the ~~National Association of Insurance and 9~~
164		-	~~Financial Advisors~~, ~~designated by~~ the ~~President of the Association; and 10~~
	163	+	(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 10
	164	+	Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 11
165	165
166		-	(xiii) one representative of the Maryland Association of Counties, 11
167		-	designated by the Association. 12
	166	+	(g) (1) The Commission shall: 12
168	167
169		-	(d) The ~~President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall designate a~~ 13
170		-	~~member who is a Senator~~ and ~~a member who is a Delegate, respectively, to serve as cochairs~~ 14
171		-	~~of the Commission.~~ 15
	168	+	(i) monitor potential and actual federal changes to the ACA, 13
	169	+	MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 14
	170	+	Maryland All–Payer Model; 15
172	171
173		-	(e) The Department of Legislative Services, the Maryland Department of Health, 16
174		-	and the Maryland Insurance Administration jointly shall provide staff for the Commission. 17
	172	+	(ii) assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes to the 16
	173	+	ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 17
	174	+	Maryland All–Payer Model; and 18
175	175
176		-	(f) A member of the Commission: 18
	176	+	(iii) provide recommendations for State and local action to protect 19
	177	+	access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage. 20
177	178
178		-	(1) ~~may not receive compensation as a member~~ of the Commission~~; but 19~~
	179	+	(2) The duties of the Commission include: 21
179	180
180		-	(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 20
181		-	Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 21
	181	+	(i) assessing the current and potential adverse effects of the loss of 22
	182	+	health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State resulting from 23
	183	+	changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, 24
	184	+	Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; 25
182	185
183		-	(g) (1) The Commission shall: 22
	186	+	(ii) estimating the costs to the State and State residents of adverse 26
	187	+	effects from potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 27
	188	+	Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 28
	189	+	loss of health coverage; 29
184	190
185		-	(i) monitor potential and actual federal changes to the ACA, 23
186		-	MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 24
187		-	Maryland All–Payer Model; 25
	191	+	(iii) examining measures that may prevent or mitigate the adverse 30
	192	+	effects of potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 31
	193	+	Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 32
	194	+	loss of health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State; 33
	195	+	HOUSE BILL 718 5
188	196
189		-	(ii) assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes to the 26
190		-	ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 27
191		-	Maryland All–Payer Model; and 28
192	197
193		-	(iii) provide recommendations for State and local action to protect 29
194		-	access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage. 30
	198	+	(iv) making recommendations for laws that: 1
195	199
196		-	(2) The duties of the Commission include: 31 HOUSE BILL 718 5
	200	+	1. may be warranted to minimize the adverse effects 2
	201	+	associated with potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the 3
	202	+	Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; and 4
	203	+
	204	+	2. will assist residents in obtaining and maintaining 5
	205	+	affordable health coverage; and 6
	206	+
	207	+	(v) identifying potential funding sources for recommended laws, as 7
	208	+	necessary. 8
	209	+
	210	+	(h) The Commission may: 9
	211	+
	212	+	(1) hold public meetings across the State to carry out the duties of the 10
	213	+	Commission; and 11
	214	+
	215	+	(2) convene workgroups to solicit input from stakeholders. 12
	216	+
	217	+	(i) On or before December 31 each year, the Commission shall submit a report on 13
	218	+	its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and, 14
	219	+	in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 15
	220	+
	221	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 16
	222	+	1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 17
	223	+	30, 2029, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 18
	224	+	of no further force and effect. 19
197	225
198	226
199	227
200		-	(i) assessing the current and potential adverse effects of the loss of 1
201		-	health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State resulting from 2
202		-	changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, 3
203		-	Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; 4
204		-
205		-	(ii) estimating the costs to the State and State residents of adverse 5
206		-	effects from potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 6
207		-	Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 7
208		-	loss of health coverage; 8
209		-
210		-	(iii) examining measures that may prevent or mitigate the adverse 9
211		-	effects of potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 10
212		-	Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 11
213		-	loss of health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State; 12
214		-
215		-	(iv) making recommendations for laws that: 13
216		-
217		-	1. may be warranted to minimize the adverse effects 14
218		-	associated with potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the 15
219		-	Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; and 16
220		-
221		-	2. will assist residents in obtaining and maintaining 17
222		-	affordable health coverage; and 18
223		-
224		-	(v) identifying potential funding sources for recommended laws, as 19
225		-	necessary. 20
226		-
227		-	(h) The Commission may: 21
228		-
229		-	(1) hold public meetings across the State to carry out the duties of the 22
230		-	Commission; and 23
231		-
232		-	(2) convene workgroups to solicit input from stakeholders. 24
233		-
234		-	(i) On or before December 31 each year, the Commission shall submit a report on 25
235		-	its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and, 26
236		-	in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 27
237		-
238		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 28
239		-	1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 29
240		-	30, 2029, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 30
241		-	of no further force and effect. 31
242		-
	228	+	Approved:
	229	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	230	+	Governor.
	231	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	232	+	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
	233	+	________________________________________________________________________________
	234	+	President of the Senate.