Maryland 2025 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB902 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		-	Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
6		-	Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
7		-	amendment.
8	5		sb0902
9	6
10	7		SENATE BILL 902
11	8		J5, J4 5lr2854
12	9		CF HB 11
13	10		By: Senator Augustine
14	11		Introduced and read first time: January 28, 2025
15	12		Assigned to: Finance
16		-	Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
17		-	Senate action: Adopted
18		-	Read second time: February 21, 2025
19	13
20		-	~~CHAPTER ______~~
	14	+	A BILL ENTITLED
21	15
22	16		AN ACT concerning 1
23	17
24	18		Health Insurance – Access to Nonparticipating Providers – Referrals, Additional 2
25	19		Assistance, and Coverage 3
26	20
27	21		FOR the purpose of repealing the termination date for certain provisions of law related to 4
28	22		referrals to and reimbursement of specialists and nonphysician specialists who are 5
29	23		not part of a carrier’s provider panel; requiring that a certain referral procedure 6
30	24		required to be established and implemented by certain insurers, nonprofit health 7
31	25		service plans, and health maintenance organizations require the carrier to provide 8
32	26		certain assistance to a member in identifying and arranging coverage for a specialist 9
33		-	or nonphysician specialist for treatment of a mental health or substance use disorder 10
	27	+	or nonphysician specialist for treatment of mental health or substance use disorder 10
34	28		services; prohibiting certain carriers from imposing prior authorization 11
35	29		requirements for scheduling, reimbursing, or continuing an established treatment 12
36		-	plan by certain nonparticipating providers utilization review requirements other 13
37		-	than what would be required if the covered benefit was provided by a provider on the 14
38		-	carrier’s provider panel under certain circumstances; requiring the Maryland Health 15
39		-	Care Commission to establish certain reimbursement rates for nonparticipating 16
40		-	providers; and generally relating to access to nonparticipating providers. 17
	30	+	plan by certain nonparticipating providers; requiring the Maryland Health Care 13
	31	+	Commission to establish certain reimbursement rates for nonparticipating 14
	32	+	providers; and generally relating to access to nonparticipating providers. 15
41	33
42		-	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
43		-	Article – Insurance 19
44		-	Section 15–830(a) 20
45		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 21
46		-	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 22
	34	+	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 16
	35	+	Article – Insurance 17
	36	+	Section 15–830(a) 18
	37	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 19
	38	+	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 20
47	39
48		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 23 2 SENATE BILL 902
	40	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 21
	41	+	Article – Insurance 22
	42	+	Section 15–830(d) and (e) 23
	43	+	Annotated Code of Maryland 24
	44	+	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 25
49	45
50		-
51		-	Article – Insurance 1
52		-	Section 15–830(d) and (e) 2
53		-	Annotated Code of Maryland 3
54		-	(2017 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 4
55		-
56		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 5
57		-	Chapter 271 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022 6
58		-	Section 4 7
59		-
60		-	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
61		-	Chapter 272 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022 9
62		-	Section 4 10
63		-
64		-	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
65		-	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12
66		-
67		-	Article – Insurance 13
68		-
69		-	15–830. 14
70		-
71		-	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 15
72		-
73		-	(2) “Carrier” means: 16
74		-
75		-	(i) an insurer that offers health insurance other than long–term 17
76		-	care insurance or disability insurance; 18
77		-
78		-	(ii) a nonprofit health service plan; 19
79		-
80		-	(iii) a health maintenance organization; 20
81		-
82		-	(iv) a dental plan organization; or 21
83		-
84		-	(v) except for a managed care organization as defined in Title 15, 22
85		-	Subtitle 1 of the Health – General Article, any other person that provides health benefit 23
86		-	plans subject to State regulation. 24
87		-
88		-	(3) (i) “Member” means an individual entitled to health care benefits 25
89		-	under a policy or plan issued or delivered in the State by a carrier. 26
90		-
91		-	(ii) “Member” includes a subscriber. 27
92		-
93		-	(4) “Nonphysician specialist” means a health care provider: 28
94		-
95		-	(i) 1. who is not a physician; 29
96		-	SENATE BILL 902 3
97		-
98		-
99		-	2. who is licensed or certified under the Health Occupations 1
100		-	Article; and 2
101		-
102		-	3. who is certified or trained to treat or provide health care 3
103		-	services for a specified condition or disease in a manner that is within the scope of the 4
104		-	license or certification of the health care provider; or 5
105		-
106		-	(ii) that is licensed as a behavioral health program under § 7.5–401 6
107		-	of the Health – General Article. 7
108		-
109		-	(5) (i) “Provider panel” means the providers that contract with a carrier 8
110		-	either directly or through a subcontracting entity to provide health care services to 9
111		-	enrollees of the carrier. 10
112		-
113		-	(ii) “Provider panel” does not include an arrangement in which any 11
114		-	provider may participate solely by contracting with the carrier to provide health care 12
115		-	services at a discounted fee–for–service rate. 13
116		-
117		-	(6) “Specialist” means a physician who is certified or trained to practice in 14
118		-	a specified field of medicine and who is not designated as a primary care provider by the 15
119		-	carrier. 16
120		-
121		-	(d) (1) Each carrier shall establish and implement a procedure by which a 17
122		-	member may request a referral to a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of 18
123		-	the carrier’s provider panel in accordance with this subsection. 19
124		-
125		-	(2) The procedure shall provide for a referral to a specialist or nonphysician 20
126		-	specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel if: 21
127		-
128		-	(i) 1. the member is diagnosed with OR SEEKING CARE FOR a 22
129		-	condition or disease that requires specialized health care services or medical care; and 23
130		-
131		-	(ii) 1. 2. A. the carrier does not have in its provider panel a 24
132		-	specialist or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or 25
133		-	provide health care services for the condition or disease; or 26
134		-
135		-	2. B. the carrier cannot provide reasonable access to a specialist 27
136		-	or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or provide 28
137		-	health care services for the condition or disease [without unreasonable delay or travel], 29
138		-	INCLUDING WITHIN THE REASONABL E APPOINTMENT WAITIN G TIME AND TRAVEL 30
139		-	DISTANCE STANDARDS E STABLISHED IN REGULA TION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AN D 31
140		-	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES; OR 32
141		-
142		-	(II) 1. THE MEMBER IS SEEKING MENTAL HEALT H OR 33
143		-	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER CARE; AND 34
144		-	4 SENATE BILL 902
145		-
146		-
147		-	2. THE CARRIER CANNOT P ROVIDE REASONABLE 1
148		-	ACCESS TO A SPECIALI ST OR NONPHYSICIAN S PECIALIST WITHIN THE REASONABLE 2
149		-	APPOINTMENT WAITING TIME AND TRAVEL DIST ANCE STANDARDS ESTAB LISHED IN 3
150		-	REGULATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AN D SUBSTANCE USE DISO RDER SERVICES . 4
151		-
152		-	(3) The procedure shall ensure that a request to obtain a referral to a 5
153		-	specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel is 6
154		-	addressed in a timely manner that is: 7
155		-
156		-	(i) appropriate for the member’s condition; and 8
157		-
158		-	(ii) in accordance with the timeliness requirements for 9
159		-	determinations made by private review agents under § 15–10B–06 of this title. 10
160		-
161		-	(4) IF A MEMBER CANNOT AC CESS MENTAL HEALTH O R SUBSTANCE 11
162		-	USE DISORDER SERVICES TH ROUGH THE REFERRAL R EQUIREMENTS UNDER 12
163		-	PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE PROCEDURE SHALL REQUIRE 13
164		-	THE CARRIER TO PROVI DE ADDITIONAL ASSIST ANCE TO THE MEMBER I N 14
165		-	IDENTIFYING AND ARRA NGING COVERAGE OF ME NTAL HEALTH OR SUBST ANCE USE 15
166		-	DISORDER SERVICES BY A SPECIALIST OR NONP HYSICIAN SPECIALIST WHO IS NOT 16
167		-	PART OF THE CARRIER ’S PROVIDER PANEL . 17
168		-
169		-	(5) THE PROCEDURE MAY NOT REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHOR IZATION FOR 18
170		-	PURPOSES OF: 19
171		-
172		-	(I) SCHEDULING AN APPOIN TMENT WITH A SPECIAL IST OR 20
173		-	NONPHYSICIAN SPECIALIST WHO IS NO T PART OF THE CARRIE R’S PROVIDER PANEL ; 21
174		-
175		-	(II) REIMBURSING A SPECIA LIST OR NONPHYSICIAN SPECIALIST 22
176		-	WHO IS NOT PART OF T HE CARRIER’S PROVIDER PANEL ; OR 23
177		-
178		-	(III) CONTINUING AN ESTABL ISHED TREATMENT PLAN WITH A 24
179		-	SPECIALIST OR NONPHY SICIAN SPECIALIST WHO IS NOT PART OF THE CARR IER’S 25
180		-	PROVIDER PANEL IF A CARRIER APPROVES A MEMBER’S REQUEST FOR A REFE RRAL 26
181		-	MADE IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THIS SUBSECTION , THE CARRIER MAY NOT REQUIRE 27
182		-	UTILIZATION REVIEW O THER THAN WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED IF THE C OVERED 28
183		-	BENEFIT WERE PROVIDED BY A PROVIDER ON THE CARRIER’S PROVIDER PANEL . 29
184		-
185		-	[(4)] (6) The procedure may not be used by a carrier as a substitute for 30
186		-	establishing and maintaining a sufficient provider network in accordance with § 15–112 of 31
187		-	this title. 32
188		-
189		-	[(5)] (7) Each carrier shall: 33
190		-	SENATE BILL 902 5
191		-
192		-
193		-	(i) have a system in place that documents all requests to obtain a 1
194		-	referral to receive a covered service from a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not 2
195		-	part of the carrier’s provider panel; 3
196		-
197		-	(ii) inform members of the procedure to request a referral under 4
198		-	paragraph (1) of this subsection; and 5
199		-
200		-	(iii) provide the information documented under item (i) of this 6
201		-	paragraph to the Commissioner on request. 7
202		-
203		-	(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, for purposes of 8
204		-	calculating any deductible, copayment amount, or coinsurance payable by the member, a 9
205		-	carrier shall treat services received in accordance with subsection (d) of this section as if 10
206		-	the service was provided by a provider on the carrier’s provider panel. 11
207		-
208		-	(2) A carrier shall ensure that services received in accordance with 12
209		-	subsection (d) of this section for mental health or substance use disorders are provided FOR 13
210		-	THE DURATION OF THE TREATMENT PLAN at no greater cost to the covered individual 14
211		-	than if the covered benefit were provided by a provider on the carrier’s provider panel. 15
212		-
213		-	(3) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , AND 16
214		-	NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2026, THE MARYLAND HEALTH CARE COMMISSION 17
215		-	SHALL ESTABLISH A RE IMBURSEMENT FORMU LA TO DETERMINE THE 18
216		-	REIMBURSEMENT RATE F OR NONPARTICIPATING PROVIDERS WHO DELIVE R 19
217		-	SERVICES UNDER PARAG RAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 20
218		-
219		-	(II) THE MARYLAND HEALTH CARE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD 21
220		-	PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH CARRIERS, MENTAL HEALTH AND SU BSTANCE USE 22
221		-	DISORDER PROVIDERS , CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE 23
222		-	DISORDER SERVICES , AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO DETERMINE THE 24
223		-	REIMBURSEMENT FORMUL A. 25
224		-
225		-	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 26
226		-	as follows: 27
227		-
228		-	Chapter 271 of the Acts of 2022 28
229		-
230		-	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 29
231		-	1, 2022. [It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 30
232		-	this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 31
233		-	of no further force and effect.] 32
234		-
235		-	Chapter 272 of the Acts of 2022 33
236		-
237		-	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 34
238		-	1, 2022. [It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 35 6 SENATE BILL 902
239		-
240		-
241		-	this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 1
242		-	of no further force and effect.] 2
243		-
244		-	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall 3
245		-	apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 4
246		-	State on or after January 1, 2026. 5
247		-
248		-	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall take 6
249		-	effect January 1, 2026. 7
250		-
251		-	SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 8
252		-	4 of this Act, this Act shall take effect June 1, 2025. 9
	46	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 26
	47	+	Chapter 271 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022 27
	48	+	Section 4 28 2 SENATE BILL 902
253	49
254	50
255	51
	52	+	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 1
	53	+	Chapter 272 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 2022 2
	54	+	Section 4 3
256	55
257		-	Approved:
258		-	________________________________________________________________________________
259		-	Governor.
260		-	________________________________________________________________________________
261		-	President of the Senate.
262		-	________________________________________________________________________________
263		-	Speaker of the House of Delegates.
	56	+	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 4
	57	+	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 5
	58	+
	59	+	Article – Insurance 6
	60	+
	61	+	15–830. 7
	62	+
	63	+	(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 8
	64	+
	65	+	(2) “Carrier” means: 9
	66	+
	67	+	(i) an insurer that offers health insurance other than long–term 10
	68	+	care insurance or disability insurance; 11
	69	+
	70	+	(ii) a nonprofit health service plan; 12
	71	+
	72	+	(iii) a health maintenance organization; 13
	73	+
	74	+	(iv) a dental plan organization; or 14
	75	+
	76	+	(v) except for a managed care organization as defined in Title 15, 15
	77	+	Subtitle 1 of the Health – General Article, any other person that provides health benefit 16
	78	+	plans subject to State regulation. 17
	79	+
	80	+	(3) (i) “Member” means an individual entitled to health care benefits 18
	81	+	under a policy or plan issued or delivered in the State by a carrier. 19
	82	+
	83	+	(ii) “Member” includes a subscriber. 20
	84	+
	85	+	(4) “Nonphysician specialist” means a health care provider: 21
	86	+
	87	+	(i) 1. who is not a physician; 22
	88	+
	89	+	2. who is licensed or certified under the Health Occupations 23
	90	+	Article; and 24
	91	+
	92	+	3. who is certified or trained to treat or provide health care 25
	93	+	services for a specified condition or disease in a manner that is within the scope of the 26
	94	+	license or certification of the health care provider; or 27
	95	+
	96	+	(ii) that is licensed as a behavioral health program under § 7.5–401 28
	97	+	of the Health – General Article. 29 SENATE BILL 902 3
	98	+
	99	+
	100	+
	101	+	(5) (i) “Provider panel” means the providers that contract with a carrier 1
	102	+	either directly or through a subcontracting entity to provide health care services to 2
	103	+	enrollees of the carrier. 3
	104	+
	105	+	(ii) “Provider panel” does not include an arrangement in which any 4
	106	+	provider may participate solely by contracting with the carrier to provide health care 5
	107	+	services at a discounted fee–for–service rate. 6
	108	+
	109	+	(6) “Specialist” means a physician who is certified or trained to practice in 7
	110	+	a specified field of medicine and who is not designated as a primary care provider by the 8
	111	+	carrier. 9
	112	+
	113	+	(d) (1) Each carrier shall establish and implement a procedure by which a 10
	114	+	member may request a referral to a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of 11
	115	+	the carrier’s provider panel in accordance with this subsection. 12
	116	+
	117	+	(2) The procedure shall provide for a referral to a specialist or nonphysician 13
	118	+	specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel if: 14
	119	+
	120	+	(i) the member is diagnosed with OR SEEKING CARE FOR a 15
	121	+	condition or disease that requires specialized health care services or medical care; and 16
	122	+
	123	+	(ii) 1. the carrier does not have in its provider panel a specialist 17
	124	+	or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or provide 18
	125	+	health care services for the condition or disease; or 19
	126	+
	127	+	2. the carrier cannot provide reasonable access to a specialist 20
	128	+	or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or provide 21
	129	+	health care services for the condition or disease [without unreasonable delay or travel] 22
	130	+	WITHIN THE REASONABL E APPOINTMENT WAITIN G TIME AND TRAVEL DI STANCE 23
	131	+	STANDARDS ESTABLISHE D IN REGULATION . 24
	132	+
	133	+	(3) The procedure shall ensure that a request to obtain a referral to a 25
	134	+	specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel is 26
	135	+	addressed in a timely manner that is: 27
	136	+
	137	+	(i) appropriate for the member’s condition; and 28
	138	+
	139	+	(ii) in accordance with the timeliness requirements for 29
	140	+	determinations made by private review agents under § 15–10B–06 of this title. 30
	141	+
	142	+	(4) IF A MEMBER CANNOT AC CESS MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTA NCE 31
	143	+	USE DISORDER SERVICE S THROUGH THE REFERR AL REQUIREMENTS UNDE R 32
	144	+	PARAGRAPHS (2) AND (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION , THE PROCEDURE SHALL REQUIRE 33
	145	+	THE CARRIER TO PROVI DE ADDITIONAL ASSIST ANCE TO THE MEMBER I N 34 4 SENATE BILL 902
	146	+
	147	+
	148	+	IDENTIFYING AND ARRA NGING COVERAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH OR SUB STANCE USE 1
	149	+	DISORDER SERVICES BY A SPECIALIST OR NONP HYSICIAN SPECIALIST WHO IS NOT 2
	150	+	PART OF THE CARRIER ’S PROVIDER PANEL . 3
	151	+
	152	+	(5) THE PROCEDURE MAY NOT REQUIRE PRIOR AUTHOR IZATION FOR 4
	153	+	PURPOSES OF: 5
	154	+
	155	+	(I) SCHEDULING AN APPOIN TMENT WITH A SPECIALIST OR 6
	156	+	NONPHYSICIAN SPECIAL IST WHO IS NOT PART OF THE CARRIER ’S PROVIDER PANEL ; 7
	157	+
	158	+	(II) REIMBURSING A SPECIA LIST OR NONPHYSICIAN SPECIALIST 8
	159	+	WHO IS NOT PART OF T HE CARRIER’S PROVIDER PANEL ; OR 9
	160	+
	161	+	(III) CONTINUING AN ESTABL ISHED TREATMENT PLAN WITH A 10
	162	+	SPECIALIST OR NONPHY SICIAN SPECIALIST WH O IS NOT PART OF THE CARRIER’S 11
	163	+	PROVIDER PANEL . 12
	164	+
	165	+	[(4)] (6) The procedure may not be used by a carrier as a substitute for 13
	166	+	establishing and maintaining a sufficient provider network in accordance with § 15–112 of 14
	167	+	this title. 15
	168	+
	169	+	[(5)] (7) Each carrier shall: 16
	170	+
	171	+	(i) have a system in place that documents all requests to obtain a 17
	172	+	referral to receive a covered service from a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not 18
	173	+	part of the carrier’s provider panel; 19
	174	+
	175	+	(ii) inform members of the procedure to request a referral under 20
	176	+	paragraph (1) of this subsection; and 21
	177	+
	178	+	(iii) provide the information documented under item (i) of this 22
	179	+	paragraph to the Commissioner on request. 23
	180	+
	181	+	(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, for purposes of 24
	182	+	calculating any deductible, copayment amount, or coinsurance payable by the member, a 25
	183	+	carrier shall treat services received in accordance with subsection (d) of this section as if 26
	184	+	the service was provided by a provider on the carrier’s provider panel. 27
	185	+
	186	+	(2) A carrier shall ensure that services received in accordance with 28
	187	+	subsection (d) of this section for mental health or substance use disorders are provided FOR 29
	188	+	THE DURATION OF THE TREATMENT PLAN at no greater cost to the covered individual 30
	189	+	than if the covered benefit were provided by a provider on the carrier’s provider panel. 31
	190	+
	191	+	(3) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRA PH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH , AND 32
	192	+	NOT LATER THAN JANUARY 1, 2026, THE MARYLAND HEALTH CARE COMMISSION 33 SENATE BILL 902 5
	193	+
	194	+
	195	+	SHALL ESTABLISH A REIMBURSEMENT FORM ULA TO DETERMINE THE 1
	196	+	REIMBURSEMENT RATE F OR NONPARTICIPATING PROVIDERS WHO DELIVE R 2
	197	+	SERVICES UNDER PARAG RAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION . 3
	198	+
	199	+	(II) THE MARYLAND HEALTH CARE COMMISSION SHALL HOLD 4
	200	+	PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH CARRIERS, MENTAL HEALTH AN D SUBSTANCE USE 5
	201	+	DISORDER PROVIDERS , CONSUMERS OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE 6
	202	+	DISORDER SERVICES , AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES TO DETERMINE THE 7
	203	+	REIMBURSEMENT FORMUL A. 8
	204	+
	205	+	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 9
	206	+	as follows: 10
	207	+
	208	+	Chapter 271 of the Acts of 2022 11
	209	+
	210	+	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 12
	211	+	1, 2022. [It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 13
	212	+	this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 14
	213	+	of no further force and effect.] 15
	214	+
	215	+	Chapter 272 of the Acts of 2022 16
	216	+
	217	+	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 17
	218	+	1, 2022. [It shall remain effective for a period of 3 years and, at the end of June 30, 2025, 18
	219	+	this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 19
	220	+	of no further force and effect.] 20
	221	+
	222	+	SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall 21
	223	+	apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 22
	224	+	State on or after January 1, 2026. 23
	225	+
	226	+	SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall take 24
	227	+	effect January 1, 2026. 25
	228	+
	229	+	SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 26
	230	+	4 of this Act, this Act shall take effect June 1, 2025. 27
	231	+