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.
*sb0676*
SENATE BILL 676
J1, J3 5lr3277
CF HB 1380
By: Senator Gile
Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 11, 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
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
Article – Health – General 22 2 SENATE BILL 676
Section 19–3B–03(a)(1)(ii)8. and 9. 1
Annotated Code of Maryland 2
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 3
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
Article – Health – General 6
19–319. 7
(a) To qualify for a license, an applicant and the hospital or related institution to 8
be operated shall meet the requirements of this section. 9
(J) (1) THE DEPARTMENT , IN COORDINATION WITH THE MARYLAND 10
INSTITUTE FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES SYSTEMS, SHALL ADOPT 11
REGULATIONS ESTABLIS HING MINIMUM PERINAT AL CARE STANDARDS TH AT MEET 12
OR EXCEED THE MARYLAND PERINATAL SYSTEM STANDARDS FOR EACH HO SPITAL 13
THAT PROVIDES OBSTET RICAL SERVICES. 14
(2) EACH HOSPITAL THAT PR OVIDES OBSTETRICAL S ERVICES SHALL 15
COMPLY WITH THE PERI NATAL CARE STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY THE 16
REGULATIONS ADOPTED UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION A S A 17
CONDITION OF LICENSU RE. 18
19–3B–02. 19
(a) A freestanding ambulatory care facility may not operate in the State unless 20
the Secretary has granted the facility a license. 21
(b) The Secretary shall issue a license to an applicant that meets the 22
requirements of this subtitle and all applicable regulations adopted by the Secretary. 23
19–3B–03. 24
(a) (1) After consultation with representatives of payors, health care 25
practitioners, and freestanding ambulatory care facilities, the Secretary shall by regulation 26
establish: 27
(ii) Standards to ensure quality of care and patient safety that shall 28
include: 29
8. The use of ultrasound imaging in a freestanding birthing 30
center; [and] 31
SENATE BILL 676 3
9. MINIMUM PERINATAL CAR E STANDARDS FOR A 1
FREESTANDING BIRTHIN G CENTER THAT MEET O R EXCEED THE MARYLAND 2
PERINATAL SYSTEM STANDARDS THAT A FREE STANDING BIRTHING CE NTER SHALL 3
MEET AS A CONDITION OF LICENSURE; AND 4
[9.] 10. Any other procedures that the Secretary considers 5
necessary for quality of care and patient safety. 6
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of 7
Health shall adopt the regulations required under §§ 19–319(j)(1) and 19–3B–03(a)(1)(ii)9 8
of the Heath – General Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this Act, on or before October 1, 9
2026. 10
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 11
October 1, 2025. 12
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.