Legislative Hotline 2018 SESSION OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Here are some of the hot issues as the 2018 Legislative Session develops:

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BILLS INTRODUCED

Behavioral Health

HB1635/SB947 Mental Health Law - Involuntary Admissions - Requirements and Procedures

Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide for admission of a certain emergency evaluee to a certain State facility or other certain facility within 6 hours after notification; and prohibiting a certain hearing officer from ordering the release of an individual who meets the requirements for involuntary admission under a certain provision of law on certain grounds.

Hearing Date: Tue 3/13 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

HB1764 Public Health - Overdose Response Program - Dispensing of Naloxone by Paramedics

Authorizing a paramedic, subject to certain rules, regulations, protocols, orders, and standards, to dispense naloxone in a nonemergency environment in accordance with the Overdose Response Program; providing that a paramedic who dispenses naloxone in accordance with the Program is not subject to any disciplinary action by the EMS Board; authorizing a paramedic to dispense naloxone to certain individuals; providing that a certain cause of action may not arise against a paramedic under certain circumstances; etc.

Hearing Date: Tue 3/20 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

HB1792 Maryland Department of Health - Deputy Secretary for Operations and Director of the Behavioral Health Administration - Repeal of Positions

Repealing the position of Deputy Secretary for Operations in the Maryland Department of Health; repealing the position of Director of the Behavioral Health Administration in the Maryland Department of Health; requiring the Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health to perform the duties assigned to the former Director of the Behavioral Health Administration; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

SB1255/HB601 Public Health - Opioids - Dispensing Requirement

Requiring a drug classified as an opioid to be dispensed with a nontoxic composition designed to permanently and chemically sequester or deactivate the drug and be used for disposal of the drug; and establishing that a certain provision of the Act does not relieve a person from certain requirements of law regarding controlled dangerous substances.

Hearing Date: Tue 3/20 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

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Crime Prevention

HB1822 Task Force to Study the Baltimore Police Department

Establishing the Task Force to Study the Baltimore Police Department; providing for the composition, chair, and staffing of the Task Force; prohibiting a member of the Task Force from receiving compensation, but authorizing certain reimbursement; requiring the Task Force to report its findings and to make recommendations regarding whether to disband or reform the Department and to recommend improvements to the operations of the Department to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2018; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: July 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Mary Clapsaddle

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Health Care Facilities

HB1768 Hospitals - Discharge of Patients - Procedures

Requiring a hospital before discharging a patient who is mentally ill to make a determination whether the patient will be accompanied at the time of discharge and, under certain circumstances, ensure that the patient is aware of certain services that are available to the patient after discharge if the patient is unaccompanied at the time of discharge; prohibiting a hospital from discharging a patient who is clothed in a manner in which the patient is indecently exposed; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

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Health Insurance/Health Care Access

HB1766/SB1208 Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program - Sunset Extension and Repeal of Subsidy for Medicare Part D Coverage Gap

Extending to December 31, 2024, the termination date of the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program; altering the period of time during which the subsidy required under the Program may not exceed a certain amount; repealing the requirement that the Program annually provide a certain subsidy of up to the full amount of the Medicare Part D coverage gap; etc.

Hearing Date: Tue 3/20 1:00 PM

Effective Date: October 1, 2018, January 1, 2020
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

HB1782 Health Insurance - Health Care Access Program - Establishment (Maryland Health Care Access Act of 2018)

Requiring the State Health Services Cost Review Commission, for fiscal year 2019, to assess on each hospital a uniform, broad-based, and reasonable fee to support the Health Care Access Program established by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange; requiring a carrier to pay a certain assessment on certain premiums beginning January 1, 2019; requiring certain health insurance entities to pay an additional assessment; requiring, beginning January 1, 2019, an individual to maintain certain coverage for certain individuals; etc.

Hearing Date: Mon 3/12 1:00 PM

Effective Date: Upon Enactment
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

HB1795 Maryland Health Benefit Exchange - Establishment of a Reinsurance Program

Requiring, rather than authorizing, the Exchange to establish a State Reinsurance Program to provide reinsurance to carriers that offer individual health benefit plans in the State; requiring that the Program be designed to mitigate the impact of high-risk individuals on certain rates; providing that, beginning on January 1, 2019, funding for reinsurance in the individual health insurance market through the Program may be made from any available State and federal funding source; providing a certain contingency; etc.

Hearing Date: Thu 3/8 1:00 PM

Effective Date: Upon Enactment
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

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Higher Education

HB1819/SB615 Coppin State University and Morgan State University - Cyber Warrior Diversity Program - Established

Establishing the Cyber Warrior Diversity Program at Coppin State University and Morgan State University to train students in computer networking and cybersecurity; exempting the Program from a certain process for proposing a new program or a substantial modification of an existing program; requiring that certain governing entities are responsible for administering the Program; prohibiting certain institutions of postsecondary education from establishing programs broadly similar to the Program; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: July 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Mary Clapsaddle

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Public Health

HB1752 Aids for the Cessation of Tobacco Product Use - Prescribing and Dispensing by Pharmacists and Health Insurance Coverage

Authorizing a pharmacist who meets the requirements of certain regulations to prescribe and dispense medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an aid for the cessation of the use of tobacco products; requiring the State Board of Pharmacy, by September 1, 2019, to adopt certain regulations; altering the definition of "nicotine replacement therapy" to require certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for certain over-the-counter products; etc.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018, January 1, 2019
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

HB1813 Maryland Department of Health - Grants Advisor (Fair and Accessible Grant Funding Act)

Requiring the Inspector General in the Maryland Department of Health to appoint a Grants Advisor who serves at the pleasure of the Inspector General; providing the purpose of the Grants Advisor is to examine all awards for appropriateness, prevent fraud in the award of grants, conduct investigations into grant award policies and investigate certain complaints; and requiring that the Grants Advisor have access to all information related to the awarding of grants to the extent authorized under certain laws for a certain purpose.

Hearing Date:

Effective Date: October 1, 2018
For more information, please contact: Nicole McCann

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