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HB1469 • 2026

Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Delegate Cullison
Last action
2026-02-13
Official status
In the House - Hearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m.
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

Requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to convene a workgroup to study a certain definition of specialty drug in a certain manner and make a recommendation to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2027, for a new definition of specialty drug.

What This Bill Does

  • Requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to convene a workgroup to study a certain definition of specialty drug in a certain manner and make a recommendation to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2027, for a new definition of specialty drug.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-13 House

    First Reading Health

  2. 2026-02-13 House

    Hearing 3/12 at 1:00 p.m.

  3. Maryland General Assembly

    Text - First - Health Insurance - Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug

Official Summary Text

Requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to convene a workgroup to study a certain definition of specialty drug in a certain manner and make a recommendation to the Governor and the General Assembly by January 1, 2027, for a new definition of specialty drug.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1469*

HOUSE BILL 1469
J5 6lr2735

By: Delegate Cullison
Introduced and read first time: February 13, 2026
Assigned to: Health

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Health Insurance – Workgroup to Study the Definition of Specialty Drug 2

FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Insurance Administration to convene a 3
workgroup to study a certain definition of “specialty drug” in a certain manner and 4
make a recommendation for a new definition of “specialty drug”; and generally 5
relating to health insurance and specialty drugs. 6

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8

(a) The Maryland Insurance Administration shall convene a workgroup to study 9
the definition of “specialty drug”. 10

(b) The workgroup shall consist of the following members: 11

(1) two representatives of pharmacy benefits managers; 12

(2) two representatives of independent pharmacists; 13

(3) one representative of a carrier that owns a pharmacy benefit manager; 14

(4) one representative of a carrier that does not own a pharmacy benefit 15
manager; 16

(5) one representative of a managed care organization; 17

(6) one representative of a hospital; and 18

(7) one representative of a health care provider that is not a hospital. 19

2 HOUSE BILL 1469

(c) The workgroup shall study the definition of “specialty drug” established under 1
§ 15–847 of the Insurance Article to: 2

(1) determine: 3

(i) which stakeholders benefit from the definition; 4

(ii) which stakeholders are disadvantaged by the definition; 5

(iii) how each stakeholder group applies the definition; 6

(iv) the impact of the definition on patients; and 7

(v) any unintended consequences of the definition; 8

(2) compare the definition to other definitions of “specialty drug” used in: 9

(i) federal law; 10

(ii) other states’ laws, and 11

(iii) international law; and 12

(3) make a recommendation for a new definition of “specialty drug” that is 13
in the best interest of patients and all stakeholders in the State. 14

(d) On or before January 1, 2027, the Maryland Insurance Administration shall 15
report the workgroup’s findings and recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance 16
with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly. 17

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2026. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and, at the end of June 30, 2027, this 19
Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and of no 20
further force and effect. 21