Health Facilities - Confidentiality of Medical Records - Crisis Pregnancy Clinics

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0563*

SENATE BILL 563
J3, J1 6lr3000
CF HB 615
By: Senators Gile, Beidle, Hester, Hettleman, and Lam
Introduced and read first time: February 4, 2026
Assigned to: Finance

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Health Facilities – Confidentiality of Medical Records – Crisis Pregnancy 2
Clinics 3

FOR the purpose of applying certain provisions of law governing the confidentiality of 4
medical records to crisis pregnancy clinics; and generally relating to confidentiality 5
of medical records. 6

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 7
Article – Health – General 8
Section 4–301(a) 9
Annotated Code of Maryland 10
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 11

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Health – General 13
Section 4–301(h) 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2023 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

4–301. 20

(a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 21

(h) (1) “Health care provider” means: 22

2 SENATE BILL 563

(i) A person who is licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized under 1
the Health Occupations Article or § 13–516 of the Education Article to provide health care 2
in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession or in an approved education or 3
training program; or 4

(ii) A facility where health care is provided to patients or recipients, 5
including [a]: 6

1. A facility as defined in § 10–101(g) of this article[, a]; 7

2. A hospital as defined in § 19–301 of this article[, a]; 8

3. A related institution as defined in § 19–301 of this article[, 9
a]; 10

4. A health maintenance organization as defined in § 11
19–701(g) of this article[, an]; 12

5. AN outpatient clinic[, a]; 13

6. A medical laboratory[, a]; 14

7. A comprehensive crisis response center[, a] 15

8. A crisis stabilization center[, and a] 16

9. A crisis treatment center established under § 7.5 –207 of 17
this article; AND 18

10. A CRISIS PREGNANCY CLI NIC, INCLUDING A MOBILE 19
FACILITY THAT PROVID ES PREGNANCY –RELATED HEALTH CARE AND IS NOT A 20
COVERED ENTITY UNDER THE FEDERAL HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND 21
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT. 22

(2) “Health care provider” includes the agents, employees, officers, and 23
directors of a facility and the agents and employees of a health care provider. 24

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 25
October 1, 2026. 26