MarylandMaryland bars charges for coordinated physical and behavioral care
Starting in 2027, many Maryland health plans must cover coordinated physical and behavioral care without cost sharing, though high-deductible plans may still charge their deductible.
What it does
Maryland Medical Assistance recipients receive coordinated physical and behavioral health care in primary care without copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles.
Covered Maryland health plans must cover coordinated care services without copayments or coinsurance. People in high-deductible plans may still owe their deductible.
The Maryland Health Care Commission must study how removing health plan cost sharing affects people receiving these services and report its findings and recommendations to two legislative committees.
Argument forMany covered people could pay less when receiving coordinated physical and behavioral health care in primary care settings.
Argument againstPeople in high-deductible health plans may still owe the deductible for these services, which could leave them with out-of-pocket costs.
More detail
The Maryland Department of Health may not require copayments, coinsurance, or deductibles for these services. This applies to Collaborative Care Model services in statewide primary care settings serving Maryland Medical Assistance Program recipients. The model coordinates physical and behavioral health care. This requirement takes effect July 1, 2026.
Covered insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations must cover these services and generally may not require cost sharing. This applies to covered individual, group, or blanket policies and contracts from insurers and nonprofit health service plans, and to health maintenance organization contracts. The rule covers specified hospital, medical, or surgical plans issued or delivered in Maryland. A plan may apply its deductible if the person is enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. The rule applies to policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2027, and takes effect that day.
The Maryland Health Care Commission must study the effects of eliminating health plan cost sharing for these services and report its findings and recommendations to the Senate Finance Committee and House Health Committee. The study covers the specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations providing coverage for Collaborative Care Model services under policies or contracts issued or delivered in Maryland. The Commission must report by December 1, 2026.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Approved by the Governor Wes Moore - Chapter 614Became Law
- Apr 3Passed EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 3Third Reading PassedMajor
- Apr 3Senate Concurs House Amendments
- Apr 2Third Reading PassedPassed House
- Apr 1Second Reading Passed with Amendments
- Apr 1Favorable with Amendments {Minor
- Apr 1Favorable with Amendments Report by HealthMinor
- Mar 25Hearing 3/26 at 2:00 p.m.
- Mar 25Hearing canceled
- Mar 17Hearing 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
- Vote recorded On Third Reading (Amend). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 16
- Vote recorded Bill is on Third Reading for Final Passage. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 13Referred HealthMinor
- Mar 12Third Reading PassedPassed Senate
- Mar 10Second Reading Passed
- Mar 10Favorable AdoptedMinor
- Mar 9Favorable Report by FinanceMinor
- Feb 27
- Vote recorded On Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 4Hearing 2/18 at 1:00 p.m.
- Jan 30First Reading FinanceIntroduced
HealthcareMental Health