EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
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Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
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*hb0718*
HOUSE BILL 718
J5, J1, C3 (5lr2585)
ENROLLED BILL
— Health and Government Operations/Finance —
Introduced 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
Read and Examined by Proofreaders:
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
_______________________________________________
Proofreader.
Sealed with the Great Seal and presented to the Governor, for his approval this
_______ day of _______________ at ________________________ o’clock, ________M.
______________________________________________
Speaker.
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 2 HOUSE BILL 718
health insurance coverage since its implementation, with the State’s uninsured rate 1
dropping from approximately 11% in 2010 to approximately 6% in 2024; and 2
WHEREAS, Approximately 6% of Maryland residents remain uninsured, with 3
disparities in coverage rates particularly affecting communities of color and low–income 4
households; and 5
WHEREAS, Changes to the ACA, the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 6
Equity Act (MHPAEA), Medicaid, or Medicare could significantly impact health care access 7
and affordability for Maryland residents; and 8
WHEREAS, It is estimated that a repeal of the ACA may result in over 30 million 9
individuals becoming uninsured in the United States; and 10
WHEREAS, In Maryland, more than 600,000 people may become uninsured in the 11
aftermath of a repeal of the ACA; and 12
WHEREAS, Millions of American seniors, including thousands of Maryland seniors, 13
could incur substantially higher health care costs following a repeal or weakening of the 14
ACA or Medicare; and 15
WHEREAS, Recent federal policy changes and market dynamics have created 16
uncertainty in the health care landscape, potentially affecting the stability of Maryland’s 17
insurance markets and health care delivery systems; and 18
WHEREAS, The COVID –19 pandemic highlighted the critical importance of 19
maintaining robust health care infrastructure and ensuring widespread access to 20
affordable health coverage; and 21
WHEREAS, It is prudent for Maryland to monitor and mitigate these negative 22
effects of a repeal or weakening of the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, or Medicare and to protect 23
public health by recommending and implementing solutions in the event of a broad–scale 24
loss of health coverage; now, therefore, 25
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 26
That: 27
(a) (1) In this section, the following words have the meanings indicated. 28
(2) “ACA” means the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. 29
(3) “MHPAEA” means the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction 30
Equity Act. 31
(b) There is a Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission. 32
(c) The Commission consists of the following members: 33 HOUSE BILL 718 3
(1) three members of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the President 1
of the Senate; 2
(2) three members of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of 3
the House; 4
(3) the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s 5
designee; 6
(4) the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, or the Commissioner’s 7
designee; 8
(5) the Executive Director of the Health Services Cost Review Commission, 9
or the Executive Director’s designee; 10
(6) the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, or the 11
Executive Director’s designee; 12
(5) (7) the Attorney General, or the Attorney General’s designee; and 13
(6) (8) the following members: 14
(i) one representative of the Maryland Hospita l Association, 15
designated by the President of the Association; 16
(ii) one representative of a managed care organization, appointed 17
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 18
(iii) one consumer of health care services, appointed jointly by the 19
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 20
(iv) one representative of a health insurance carrier, appointed 21
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 22
(v) one representative who is an employer, appointed by the 23
Governor; 24
(vi) one representative of the nursing home industry, appointed by 25
the Governor; 26
(vii) one representative of MedChi, designated by the Chief Executive 27
Officer of MedChi; 28
(viii) one representative of behavioral health providers, appointed 29
jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House; 30
4 HOUSE BILL 718
(ix) two members of the public: 1
1. one of whom shall be appointed jointly by the President of 2
the Senate and the Speaker of the House; and 3
2. one of whom shall be appointed by the Governor; 4
(x) one representative of a group model health maintenance 5
organization that participates in the individual market, appointed by the Governor; and 6
(xi) one representative of the League of Life and Health Insurers of 7
Maryland, designated by the President of the League; 8
(xii) one representative of the National Association of Insurance and 9
Financial Advisors, designated by the President of the Association; and 10
(xiii) one representative of the Maryland Association of Counties, 11
designated by the Association. 12
(d) The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall designate a 13
member who is a Senator and a member who is a Delegate, respectively, to serve as cochairs 14
of the Commission. 15
(e) The Department of Legislative Services, the Maryland Department of Health, 16
and the Maryland Insurance Administration jointly shall provide staff for the Commission. 17
(f) A member of the Commission: 18
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Commission; but 19
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 20
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 21
(g) (1) The Commission shall: 22
(i) monitor potential and actual federal changes to the ACA, 23
MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 24
Maryland All–Payer Model; 25
(ii) assess the impact of potential and actual federal changes to the 26
ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, and the 27
Maryland All–Payer Model; and 28
(iii) provide recommendations for State and local action to protect 29
access of residents of the State to affordable health coverage. 30
(2) The duties of the Commission include: 31 HOUSE BILL 718 5
(i) assessing the current and potential adverse effects of the loss of 1
health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State resulting from 2
changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland Children’s Health Program, 3
Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; 4
(ii) estimating the costs to the State and State residents of adverse 5
effects from potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 6
Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 7
loss of health coverage; 8
(iii) examining measures that may prevent or mitigate the adverse 9
effects of potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the Maryland 10
Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model and the resulting 11
loss of health coverage on the residents, public health, and economy of the State; 12
(iv) making recommendations for laws that: 13
1. may be warranted to minimize the adverse effects 14
associated with potential and actual changes to the ACA, MHPAEA, Medicaid, the 15
Maryland Children’s Health Program, Medicare, or the Maryland All–Payer Model; and 16
2. will assist residents in obtaining and maintaining 17
affordable health coverage; and 18
(v) identifying potential funding sources for recommended laws, as 19
necessary. 20
(h) The Commission may: 21
(1) hold public meetings across the State to carry out the duties of the 22
Commission; and 23
(2) convene workgroups to solicit input from stakeholders. 24
(i) On or before December 31 each year, the Commission shall submit a report on 25
its findings and recommendations, including any legislative proposals, to the Governor and, 26
in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 27
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 28
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 4 years and 1 month and, at the end of June 29
30, 2029, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 30
of no further force and effect. 31