Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed three affordable housing bills into law: House Bill 538 (the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024); HB 599 (the Housing and Community Development Financing Act of 2024); and HB 693 (the Renters’ Rights and Stabilization Act of 2024). The bills fall in line with the Moore Administration’s goal of … Read more
With about 27 percent of Maryland adults living with obesity, according to the body mass index scale, the state is aiming to conduct a new study that could help address the negative health outcomes associated with the disease. Senate Bill 594 and House Bill 986, which were cross-filed, were recently passed in the legislature, and … Read more
Sen. Joanne Benson (D-Prince George) is advocating for legislation that aims to protect infant health in Maryland. Events that occur during a child’s physical and developmental growth—up to age three—can impact their health and wellbeing for the rest of their lives. Many parents introduce their children to baby food during this stage, but a recent … Read more
Under current federal law, it is illegal for anyone to charge a U.S. military veteran money for filing an initial claim through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which administers benefit programs for vets and their family members. The Maryland Health and Government Operations Committee met Tuesday to discuss House Bill 875, which would … Read more
Members of the Maryland House Health and Government Operations Committee met last week to discuss a series of bills that will be voted on in the future. Bill topics included reciprocal licenses, wages and benefits for nursing home workers, and vaccine administration. House Bill 146 would allow health occupations boards to create reciprocal licensure agreements … Read more
The Maryland State Reinsurance Program (SRP) Work Group met last week to provide an overview of the Report on the Impact of the SRP. It states that no changes should be made to the SRP’s design, parameters, and state funding mechanisms. An action plan was considered in preparation of the possibility of Congress allowing the … Read more
The Maryland Behavioral Health Care Treatment and Access Commission held its first-ever meeting last month to discuss report findings and next steps. Under House Bill 1148, which passed in the Maryland Legislature earlier this year, the commission is required to create four workgroups: one for geriatric behavioral health, one for youth behavioral health and the … Read more
Last month, the Maryland Department of Health (DOH) announced that $2.7 million has been made available over the next three years to support pregnant and parenting women recovering from opioid use disorder and substance use disorder. Maryland is piloting the program, known as Strengthening Families in Recovery (SFP). “The Strengthening Families approach will be incorporated … Read more
Health leaders from Maryland’s Cecil County held a meeting last month to discuss ways in which they will use money from the opioid settlement fund. Key areas of focus include prevention and education, and centering the voices of those with previous substance use experiences. Maryland established the Opioid Restitution Fund (ORF) in 2019 to receive … Read more
At the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) meeting last month, members discussed the types of regulations needed to implement House Bill 812, which went into effect on June 1st. The bill allows for the adoption of emergency regulations to restrict the sharing of patient data concerning legally protected healthcare—specifically reproductive care, including abortions. David Sharp, … Read more