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*hb1365*
HOUSE BILL 1365
J5, J4, J2 6lr0671
By: Delegate Pena –Melnyk Delegates Pena –Melnyk, Bagnall , D. Jones, Spiegel,
Rose, Alston, Cullison, Guzzone, Hill, Hutchinson, S. Johnson, Kaufman,
Kipke, Lopez, Martinez, M. Morgan, Reilly, Rosenberg, Ross, Taveras,
White Holland, and Woorman
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Health
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 3, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Health Occupations and, Public Health, and Insurance – Menopause – Provider 2
Training and Coverage Requirements, Policy Initiatives, and Access to Care 3
FOR the purpose of altering the membership of the State Advisory Council on Health and 4
Wellness; requiring health occupations boards that require licensees or certificate 5
holders to complete certain continuing education to grant a certain number of hours 6
for every hour of continuing education for menopause and menopause –associated 7
symptoms; authorizing certain health occupations boards to establish a maximum 8
number of certain continuing education credits granted; requiring the Department 9
to identify a certain training program in consultation with certain professional 10
associations; requiring certain in surers, nonprofit health service plans, and health 11
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the evaluation and management 12
of menopause and menopause –associated conditions; requiring the Maryland 13
Commission for Women and the Maryland Department of Health to take certain 14
actions related to perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal conditions; and 15
generally relating to provider training and, health insurance coverage , policy 16
initiatives, and access to care related to menopause. 17
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 18
Article – Health – General 19
Section 13–201 20
Annotated Code of Maryland 21
2 HOUSE BILL 1365
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 1
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 2
Article – Health – General 3
Section 13–203 4
Annotated Code of Maryland 5
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 6
BY adding to 7
Article – Health Occupations 8
Section 1–231 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11
BY adding to 12
Article – Insurance 13
Section 15–864 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 18
Article – Health – General 19
13–201. 20
In this subtitle, “Advisory Council” means the State Advisory Council on Health and 21
Wellness. 22
13–203. 23
(a) The Advisory Council consists of [34] voting members appointed by the 24
Secretary. 25
(b) The following members shall serve without term limits: 26
(1) The Secretary [of Health], or the Secretary’s designee; 27
(2) The State Superintendent of Schools , or the State Superintendent’s 28
designee; 29
(3) The Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee; 30
(4) The Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; 31
HOUSE BILL 1365 3
(5) A representative of the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health 1
Disparities; [and] 2
(6) A representative of the Maryland Association of County Health 3
Officers; AND 4
(7) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND COMMISSION 5
FOR WOMEN, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE. 6
(c) The following members are subject to term limits: 7
(1) One representative of the American Heart Association Mid –Atlantic, 8
Inc., nominated by the Executive Director of the Association; 9
(2) One representative of the Arthritis Foundation, Mid–Atlantic Region, 10
Maryland, nominated by the Executive Director of the Foundation; 11
(3) One representative of the American Diabetes Association, Maryland 12
Chapter, nominated by the Executive Director of the Association; 13
(4) One representative of Johns Hopkins Medicine, nominated by the Chief 14
Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine; 15
(5) One representative of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, 16
nominated by the Executive Director of MedChi; 17
(6) One representative of the University of Maryland Medical Center and 18
University of Maryland School of Medicine, nominated by the Chief Executive Officer of the 19
Medical Center and the Dean of the School of Medicine; 20
(7) One representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy 21
of Pediatrics, nominated by the Executive Director of the Chapter; 22
(8) One representative of the Maryland Nurses Association, nominated by 23
the Executive Director of the Association; 24
(9) One representative of the Maryland Academy of Nutrition an d 25
Dietetics, nominated by the President of the Academy; 26
(10) One representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American College of 27
Emergency Physicians, nominated by the President of the Chapter; [and] 28
(11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE WI TH EXPERTISE IN PERI MENOPAUSAL, 29
MENOPAUSAL, AND POSTMENOPAUSAL EVALUATION AND TREATMENT; AND 30
(12) [Eighteen] SEVENTEEN members of the public, who may include: 31
4 HOUSE BILL 1365
(i) Individuals with a chronic disease or family members of an 1
individual with a chronic disease; 2
(ii) Licensed health care providers; 3
(iii) Individuals with a physical fitness background; 4
(iv) Employers or representatives of the business sector; 5
(v) Representatives of health insurers; 6
(vi) Representatives of community–based organizations; and 7
(vii) Individuals with expressed interest in health and wellness. 8
(d) (1) This subsection applies to members who are subject to term limits. 9
(2) The term of a member is 4 years. 10
(3) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided 11
for members of the Advisory Council on October 1, 2017. 12
(4) A member may serve two consecutive full terms. 13
(5) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is 14
appointed and qualifies. 15
(6) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the 16
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies. 17
(7) A member who serves two consecutive full 4 –year terms may not be 18
reappointed for 4 years after the completion of those terms. 19
(e) If a vacancy occurs, the Secretary promptly shall appoint a successor. 20
Article – Health Occupations 21
1–231. 22
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A LICENSEE OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER 23
WHO EVALUATES AND MA NAGES MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED 24
SYMPTOMS WHILE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE. 25
(B) EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIO NS BOARD THAT REQUIR ES A LICENSEE OR 26
CERTIFICATE HOLDER TO COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION AS A CONDITION OF 27
HOUSE BILL 1365 5
THE RENEWAL OF THE LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE SHALL GRANT AT LEAST 2 HOURS 1
OF CO NTINUING EDUCATION C REDITS FOR EVERY 1 HOUR OF CONTINUING 2
EDUCATION ON MENOPAU SE AND MENOPAUSE –ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS 3
COMPLETED BY THE LICENSEE OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER. 4
(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDEN TIFY AT LEAST ONE TR AINING 5
PROGRAM FOR LICENSEE S AND CERTIFICATE HOLDERS REGARDING THE 6
EVALUATION AND MANAG EMENT OF MENOPAUSE A ND MENOPAUSE –ASSOCIATED 7
SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSE S OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 8
SECTION. 9
(2) IN IDENTIFYING A TRAINING PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF 10
THIS SUBSECTION , THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONS ULT WITH PROFESSIONA L 11
ASSOCIATIONS WITH EX PERTISE IN MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE –ASSOCIATED 12
SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING THE MENOPAUSE SOCIETY. 13
(D) A HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION MAY ADOPT 14
REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SE CTION, INCLUDING REGULATION S 15
ESTABLISHING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS THAT 16
MAY BE GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 18
as follows: 19
Article – Insurance 20
15–864. 21
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 22
(1) INSURERS AND NONPROF IT HEALTH SERVICE PL ANS THAT 23
PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS 24
ON AN EXPENSE –INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICIES OR 25
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND 26
(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE O RGANIZATIONS THAT PR OVIDE 27
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS UNDER 28
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE. 29
(B) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR 30
THE EVALUATION AND M ANAGEMENT OF MENOPAU SE AND 31
MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS AS DETERMINED BY THE TREATING HEALTH 32
CARE PROVIDER. 33
6 HOUSE BILL 1365
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Commission for 1
Women shall: 2
(1) evaluate opportunities for State policy initiatives that improve the 3
health and economic security of individuals in the State with perimenopausal, menopausal, 4
and postmenopausal conditions; and 5
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, report its findings and r ecommendations 6
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 7
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of 8
Health shall: 9
(1) in consultation with the State Community Health Worker Advisory 10
Committee, evaluate and develop an action plan to increase access to perimenopausal, 11
menopausal, and postmenopausal health care services through the outreach of community 12
health workers to consumers; and 13
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, submit its evaluation and recommended 14
action plan to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government 15
Article. 16
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of 17
Health shall: 18
(1) in consultation with health care provider professional associations and 19
institutions of higher education, including community colleges, evaluate methods for 20
increasing opportunities for clinical education, including postgraduate educa tion, on 21
perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal evaluation and treatment; and 22
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, report its findings and recommendations 23
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article. 24
SECTION 3. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall 25
apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 26
State on or after January 1, 2027. 27
SECTION 4. 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall 28
take effect January 1, 2027. 29
SECTION 5. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , except as provided in 30
Section 4 1 of this Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 2026. 31
SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in 32
Sections 7 and 8 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 33