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*hb0746*
HOUSE BILL 746
J5, J1, J4 6lr2138
CF SB 428
By: Delegate Bagnall Delegates Bagnall, Alston, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill,
S. Johnson, Kaufman, Lopez, Martinez, Rosenberg, Ross, Taveras,
White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance – Collaborative 2
Care Model – Cost Sharing Prohibition and Coverage Requirements 3
FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Maryland Department of Health and certain insurers, 4
nonprofit health plans, and health maintenance organizations from imposing a 5
copay, coinsurance, or deductible for services provided in accordance with the 6
Collaborative Care Model; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health plans, and 7
health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for services provided in 8
accordance with the Collaborative Care Model; requiring the Maryland Health Care 9
Commission to study the impact of eliminating health insurance cost –sharing for 10
services provided under the Collaborative Care Model by certain insurers, nonprofit 11
health plans, and health maintenance organizations; and generally relating to cost 12
sharing and the Collaborative Care Model. 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Health – General 15
Section 15–141.1 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
BY adding to 19
Article – Insurance 20
Section 15–864 21
2 HOUSE BILL 746
Annotated Code of Maryland 1
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 2
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 3
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 4
Article – Health – General 5
15–141.1. 6
(a) In this section, “Collaborative Care Model” means an evidence –based 7
approach for integrating somatic and behavioral health services in primary care settings 8
that includes: 9
(1) Care coordination and management; 10
(2) Regular, proactive outcome monitoring and treatment for outcome 11
targets using standardized outcome measurement rating scales and electronic tools, such 12
as patient tracking; and 13
(3) Regular sy stematic psychiatric and substance use disorder caseload 14
reviews and consultation with a psychiatrist, an addiction medicine specialist, or any other 15
behavioral health medicine specialist as allowed under federal regulations governing the 16
model. 17
(b) This section may not be construed to prohibit referrals from a primary care 18
provider to a specialty behavioral health care provider. 19
(c) The Department shall implement and provide reimbursement for services 20
provided in accordance with the Collaborative Care Model statewide in primary care 21
settings that provide health care services to Program recipients. 22
(D) THE DEPARTMENT MAY NOT IMPOSE A COPAYMENT, COINSURANCE, OR 23
DEDUCTIBLE REQUIREMENT FOR SERVICES PROV IDED IN ACCORDANCE W ITH THE 24
COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL STATEWIDE IN PRIMARY CARE SETTINGS THAT 25
PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO PROGRAM RECIPIENTS. 26
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 27
as follows: 28
Article – Insurance 29
15–864. 30
(A) IN THIS SECTION, “COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL” HAS THE MEANING 31
STATED IN § 15–141.1 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL ARTICLE. 32
HOUSE BILL 746 3
(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 1
(1) INSURERS AND NONPROF IT HEALTH SERVICE PL ANS THAT 2
PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR SERVICE S PROVIDED IN ACCORD ANCE WITH THE 3
COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL UNDER INDIVI DUAL, GROUP, OR BLANKET 4
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GR OUPS ON AN 5
EXPENSE–INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICIES OR CONTRACTS 6
THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND 7
(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATIONS THAT PR OVIDE 8
COVERAGE FOR SERVICES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLLABORATIVE 9
CARE MODEL UNDER INDIVIDUA L OR GROUP HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL 10
BENEFITS TO INDIVIDU ALS OR GROUPS UNDER CONTRACTS THAT ARE I SSUED OR 11
DELIVERED IN THE STATE. 12
(C) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 13
AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION MAY NOT IMPOSE A COPAYMENT , 14
COINSURANCE, OR DEDUCTIBLE REQUIR EMENT ON COVERAGE FO R SERVICES 15
PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL. 16
(2) IF AN INSURED OR ENRO LLEE IS COVERED UNDE R A 17
HIGH–DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PL AN, AS DEFINED IN 26 U.S.C. § 223, AN ENTITY 18
SUBJECT TO THIS SECT ION MAY SUBJECT SERV ICES PROVIDED IN ACC ORDANCE 19
WITH THE COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL TO THE DEDUCTIBLE REQUIREMENT OF 20
THE HIGH–DEDUCTIBLE HEALTH PLAN. 21
(C) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR 22
SERVICES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL. 23
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That on or before December 1, 24
2026, the Maryland Health Care Commission shall: 25
(1) conduct a study in accordance with § 15 –1501 of the Insurance Article 26
on the impact of eliminating health insurance cost–sharing for services provided under the 27
Collaborative Care Model by insurers, n onprofit health service plans, and health 28
maintenance organizations that provide coverage for services provided in accordance with 29
the Collaborative Care Model under individual, group, or blanket health insurance policies 30
or contracts that are issued or delivered in the State; and 31
(2) report its findings and recommendations, in accordance with § 2 –1257 32
of the State Government Article, to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health 33
Committee. 34
4 HOUSE BILL 746
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall 1
apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 2
State on or after January 1, 2027. 3
SECTION 4. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Sections 2 and 3 4 of this 4
Act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 5
SECTION 5. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in 6
Section 4 5 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 7
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.