Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations - Perinatal Behavioral Health Conditions

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0891*

SENATE BILL 891
J5, J2, J1 6lr2075
CF HB 1118
By: Senators Gile, Beidle, Hester, Hettleman, and King
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2026
Assigned to: Finance
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted
Read second time: March 19, 2026

CHAPTER ______

AN ACT concerning 1

Health, Health Insurance, and Health Occupations – Perinatal Mental 2
Behavioral Health Conditions 3

FOR the purpose of requiring carriers to provide a standing referral to a mental behavioral 4
health care provider for a certain period of time; clarifying the application of 5
provisions requiring carriers to allow a member to obtain a referral to a provider who 6
is not part of the carrier’s provider network when seeking care for a mental health 7
condition in certain circumstances ; requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance 8
Program and certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and h ealth 9
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for screening for perinatal mental 10
behavioral health conditions at certain times; altering and establishing 11
requirements related to the identification and development of training programs 12
that improve ear ly identification of perinatal mental behavioral health conditions; 13
requiring the Maryland Department of Health to establish a perinatal mental health 14
condition screening program certain health care providers to screen for perinatal 15
behavioral health condi tions; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to 16
identify certain screening tools and to assist certain health care providers with 17
accessing resources and referral services related to screening for perinatal 18
behavioral health conditions; requiring certain applicants for the renewal of a health 19
occupation license or certificate to provide documentation that the applicant 20
completed continuing education credit hours health occupations boards to grant a 21
certain number of hours of continuing education credi ts for each hour of continuing 22
education completed by certain individuals on perinatal mental behavioral health 23
conditions; and generally relating to perinatal mental behavioral health conditions. 24

2 SENATE BILL 891

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 1
Article – Health – General 2
Section 15–103(a)(1) 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 6
Article – Health – General 7
Section 15–103(a)(2)(xxvii) and (xxviii), 20–1801, and 20–1802 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 10

BY adding to 11
Article – Health – General 12
Section 15–103(a)(2)(xxix), 20–1801, and 20–1804 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Insurance 17
Section 15–830(a) and (c) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20

BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 21
Article – Insurance 22
Section 15–830(d) 23
Annotated Code of Maryland 24
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 25

BY adding to 26
Article – Insurance 27
Section 15–864 28
Annotated Code of Maryland 29
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 30

BY adding to 31
Article – Health – General 32
Section 20–1801 and 20–1804 33
Annotated Code of Maryland 34
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 35

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 36
Article – Health – General 37
Section 20–1801 and 20–1802 38
Annotated Code of Maryland 39
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 40
SENATE BILL 891 3

BY adding to 1
Article – Health Occupations 2
Section 1–231 3
Annotated Code of Maryland 4
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 5

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 6
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 7

Article – Health – General 8

15–103. 9

(a) (1) The Secretary shall administer the Maryland Medical Assistance 10
Program. 11

(2) The Program: 12

(xxvii) Beginning on January 1, 2026, if providing coverage for the 13
delivery of anesthesia, shall provide coverage for the delivery of anesthesia in accordance 14
with § 15–862 of the Insurance Article; [and] 15

(xxviii) Beginning on January 1, 2026, shall provide calcium score 16
testing in accordance with § 15–863 of the Insurance Article; AND 17

(XXIX) BEGINNING ON JANUARY 1, 2027, SHALL PROVIDE 18
COVERAGE FOR SCREENING FOR PERINATAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AT 19
WELL VISITS WITHIN T HE FIRST YEAR OF THE CHILD’S LIFE , AS DETERMINED 20
APPROPRIATE BY THE TREATING HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. 21

Article – Insurance 22

15–830. 23

(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 24

(2) “Carrier” means: 25

(i) an insurer that offers health insurance other than long–term 26
care insurance or disability insurance; 27

(ii) a nonprofit health service plan; 28

(iii) a health maintenance organization; 29

4 SENATE BILL 891

(iv) a dental plan organization; or 1

(v) except for a managed care organization as defined in Title 15, 2
Subtitle 1 of the Health – General Article, any other person that provides health benefit 3
plans subject to State regulation. 4

(3) (i) “Member” means an individual entitled to health care benefits 5
under a policy or plan issued or delivered in the State by a carrier. 6

(ii) “Member” includes a subscriber. 7

(4) “MENTAL HEALTH DISORDE R” INCLUDES A PERINATAL MENTAL 8
HEALTH CONDITION. 9

[(4)] (5) “Nonphysician specialist” means a health care provider: 10

(i) 1. who is not a physician; 11

2. who is licensed or certified under the Health Occupations 12
Article; and 13

3. who is certified or trained to treat or provide health care 14
services for a specified condition or disease in a manner that is within the scope of the 15
license or certification of the health care provider; or 16

(ii) that is licensed as a behavioral health program under § 7.5 –401 17
of the Health – General Article. 18

(6) (5) (I) “PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 19
CONDITION” MEANS A MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITION OCC URRING 20
DURING PREGNANCY, THE POSTPARTUM PERIOD, OR THE PERINATAL PER IOD OR 21
WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE CONCL USION OF A PREGNANCY , INCLUDING A 22
PREGNANCY THAT DOES NOT RESULT IN A LIVE BIRTH. 23

(II) “PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITION ” 24
INCLUDES POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. 25

[(5)] (7) (6) (i) “Provider panel” means the providers that contract with a 26
carrier either directly or through a subcontracting entity to provide health care services to 27
enrollees of the carrier. 28

(ii) “Provider panel” does not include an arrangement in which any 29
provider may participate solely by contracting with the carrier to provide health care 30
services at a discounted fee–for–service rate. 31

SENATE BILL 891 5

[(6)] (8) (7) “Specialist” means a physician who is certified or trained to 1
practice in a specified field of medicine and who is not designated as a primary care provider 2
by the carrier. 3

(c) (1) (I) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a member 4
who is pregnant shall receive a standing referral to an obstetrician, in accordance with this 5
subsection. 6

[(2)] (II) After the member who is pregnant receives a standing referral to 7
an obstetrician, the obstetrician is responsible for the primary management of the 8
member’s pregnancy, including the issuance of referrals in accordance with the carrier’s 9
policies and procedures, through the postpartum period. 10

(2) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF TH IS SECTION, A 11
MEMBER SHALL RECEIVE A STANDING REFERRAL TO A MENTAL HEALTH C ARE 12
PROVIDER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH T HIS SUBSECTION, FOR THE DURATION OF THE 13
MEMBER’S PREGNANCY AND 1 YEAR AFTER THE MEMBE R GIVES BIRTH TO A 14
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CA RE PROVIDER ACTING W ITHIN THE SCOPE OF T HE 15
PROVIDER’S LICENSE , INCLUDING A PSYCHIAT RIST, PSYCHOLOGIST, LICENSED 16
SOCIAL WORKER–CLINICAL, OR LICENSED PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR FOR: 17

(I) THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES RECOGNIZE D BY THE 18
UNITED STATES PREVENTIVE SERVICES TASK FORCE AS PREVENTIVE B ENEFITS; 19
AND 20

(II) THE DURATION OF THE MEMBER’S PREGNANCY AND 1 YEAR 21
AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PREGNANCY. 22

(3) A written treatment plan may not be required when a standing referral 23
is to an obstetrician OR MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER under this 24
subsection. 25

(d) (1) Each carrier shall establish and implement a procedure by which a 26
member may request a referral to a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of 27
the carrier’s provider panel in accordance with this subsection. 28

(2) The procedure shall provide for a referral to a specialist or nonphysician 29
specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel if: 30

(i) 1. the member is diagnosed with a condition or disease that 31
requires specialized health care services or medical care; and 32

2. A. the carrier does not have in its provider panel a 33
specialist or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or 34
provide health care services for the condition or disease; or 35

6 SENATE BILL 891

B. the carrier cannot provide reasonable access to a specialist 1
or nonphysician specialist with the professional training and expertise to treat or provide 2
health care services for the condition or disease without unreasonable delay or travel, 3
including within the reasonable appointment waiting time and travel distance standards 4
established in regulation for mental health and substance use disorder services; or 5

(ii) 1. the member is seeking mental health or substance use 6
disorder care; and 7

2. the carrier cannot provide reasonable access to a specialist 8
or nonphysician specialist within the reasonable appointment waiting time and travel 9
distance standards established in regulation for mental health and substance use disorder 10
services. 11

(3) The procedure shall ensure that a request to obtain a referral to a 12
specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel is 13
addressed in a timely manner that is: 14

(i) appropriate for the member’s condition; and 15

(ii) in accordance with the timeliness requirements for 16
determinations made by private review agents under § 15–10B–06 of this title. 17

(4) If a member cannot access mental health or substance use disorder 18
services through the referral requirements under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, 19
the procedure shall require the carrier to provide addit ional assistance to the member in 20
identifying and arranging coverage of mental health or substance use disorder services by 21
a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not part of the carrier’s provider panel. 22

(5) If a carrier approves a member’s req uest for a referral made in 23
accordance with this subsection, the carrier may not require utilization review other than 24
what would be required if the covered benefit were provided by a provider on the carrier’s 25
provider panel. 26

(6) The procedure may not b e used by a carrier as a substitute for 27
establishing and maintaining a sufficient provider network in accordance with § 15–112 of 28
this title. 29

(7) Each carrier shall: 30

(i) have a system in place that documents all requests to obtain a 31
referral to receive a covered service from a specialist or nonphysician specialist who is not 32
part of the carrier’s provider panel; 33

(ii) inform members of the procedure to request a referral under 34
paragraph (1) of this subsection; and 35

SENATE BILL 891 7

(iii) provide the information documented under item (i) of this 1
paragraph to the Commissioner on request. 2

15–864. 3

(A) IN THIS SECTION , “PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 4
CONDITION” HAS THE MEANING STATED IN § 15–830 OF THIS SUBTITLE. 5

(B) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO: 6

(1) INSURERS AND NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLANS THAT 7
PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS 8
ON AN EXPENSE –INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POL ICIES OR 9
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND 10

(2) HEALTH MAINTENA NCE ORGANIZATIONS TH AT PROVIDE 11
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS UNDER 12
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE. 13

(C) (1) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SHALL P ROVIDE 14
COVERAGE FOR SCREENI NG FOR PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 15
CONDITIONS: 16

(I) AT EACH PRENATAL VISIT; 17

(II) AT LEAST ONCE WITHIN 6 WEEKS AFTER THE INSU RED OR 18
ENROLLEE GAVE BIRTH; AND 19

(III) AT EACH WELL CHILD VISIT VISITS WITHIN THE FIRST YEA R OF THE 20
CHILD’S LIFE , AS DETERMINED APPROP RIATE BY THE TREATING HEAL TH CARE 21
PROVIDER. 22

(2) (I) SUBJECT TO SUBPARAGRAPH (II) OF THIS PARAGRAPH, AN 23
ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION MAY SUBJECT THE COVERAGE REQUIRED UNDER 24
THIS SUBSECTION TO A COPAYMENT OR COINSUR ANCE REQUIREMENT OR 25
DEDUCTIBLE THAT AN E NTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SE CTION IMPOSES FOR SI MILAR 26
COVERAGES UNDER THE SAME POLICY OR CONTRACT. 27

(II) THE COPAYMENT OR COIN SURANCE REQUIREMENT OR 28
DEDUCTIBLE IMPOSED UNDER SUBPARAGRAPH (I) OF THIS PARAGRAPH MAY NOT BE 29
GREATER THAN THE COPAYMENT OR COINSURANCE REQUIREMENT OR DEDUCTIBLE 30
IMPOSED BY THE ENTITY FOR SIMILAR COVERAGES. 31

8 SENATE BILL 891

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 1
as follows: 2

Article – Health – General 3

20–1801. 4

(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 5
INDICATED. 6

(B) “HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ” MEANS A PERSON WHO I S LICENSED , 7
CERTIFIED, OR OTHERWISE AUTHORI ZED UNDER THE HEALTH OCCUPATIONS 8
ARTICLE TO PROVIDE HE ALTH OR MEDICAL CARE IN THE ORDINARY COUR SE OF 9
BUSINESS OR PRACTICE OF A PROFESSION. 10

(C) (1) “PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITION” MEANS 11
A MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITION OCCURRING DURING PREGNANCY, THE 12
POSTPARTUM PERIOD, OR THE PERINATAL PER IOD OR WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE 13
CONCLUSION OF A PREGNANCY, INCLUDING A PREGNANCY THAT DOES NOT RESULT 14
IN A LIVE BIRTH. 15

(2) “PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITION ” 16
INCLUDES POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION. 17

[20–1801.] 20–1802. 18

(a) [(1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 19

(2) (i) “Health care facility” means a facilit y or an office where health 20
or medical care is provided to patients by a health care provider. 21

(ii) “Health care facility” includes a hospital and a limited service 22
hospital. 23

(3) “Health care provider” means a person who is licensed, certified, or 24
otherwise authorized under the Health Occupations Article to provide health or medical 25
care in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession. 26

(4) “Hospital” has the meaning stated in § 19–301 of this article. 27

(5) “Limited service hospita l” has the meaning stated in § 19 –301 of this 28
article. 29

SENATE BILL 891 9

(b)] The Department, in consultation with stakeholders, shall identify up–to–date, 1
evidence–based, written information about perinatal [mood and anxiety disorders ] 2
MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS that: 3

(1) Has been reviewed by medical experts and national and local 4
organizations specializing in maternal mental health; 5

(2) Is designed for use by health care providers and pregnant and 6
postpartum women and their families; 7

(3) Is culturally a nd linguistically appropriate for potential recipients of 8
the information; and 9

(4) Includes: 10

(i) Information addressing: 11

1. The signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety 12
disorders; 13

2. Perinatal medication usage; 14

3. Risk factors of perinatal [mood and anxiety disorders ] 15
MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS , including perinatal loss and high –risk 16
pregnancy; 17

4. How and when to screen for symptoms of perinatal [mood 18
and anxiety disorders] MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS; 19

5. Brief intervention strategies; and 20

6. Evidence–based psychosocial treatments; and 21

(ii) Contact information for national and local maternal mental 22
health programs and services. 23

[(c)] (B) The Department shall: 24

(1) Provide the information identified by the Department under subsection 25
[(b)] (A) of this section to [health]: 26

(I) HEALTH care facilities and health care providers that provide 27
prenatal care, labor and delivery services, and postnatal care to expectant parents; AND 28

(II) EACH LOCAL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION 29
PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN AGENCY IN THE STATE; and 30
10 SENATE BILL 891

(2) Make the information identified by the Department under subsection 1
[(b)] (A) of this section available on the Department’s website. 2

(C) A AT LEAST ONCE DURING EACH TRIMESTER , A HEALTH CARE 3
PROVIDER WHO EVALUAT ES AND MANAGES PREGNANCY OR POSTPAR TUM 4
PERINATAL CARE WHILE ACTING WI THIN THE SCOPE OF TH E HEALTH CARE 5
PROVIDER’S LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE SHALL PROVIDE THE TO A PATIENT: 6

(1) THE INFORMATION IDENTIFI ED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER 7
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO A PATIENT AT EACH PRENATAL VISIT; OR 8

(2) OTHER APPROPRIATE INF ORMATION ON PERINATA L 9
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. 10

(D) A HOSPITAL SHALL PROVI DE THE INF ORMATION IDENTIFIED BY THE 11
DEPARTMENT UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION TO A BIRTHING PARENT ON 12
DISCHARGE FROM THE BIRTHING HOSPITAL. 13

[20–1802.] 20–1803. 14

(a) The Department, in [collaboration with MedChi, The Maryland State Medical 15
Society, the Maryland Nurses Association, the Maryland Affiliate of the American College 16
of Nurse Midwives, the Maryland Psychological Association, and any other health 17
professional association or public health entity in the State identified by the Department ] 18
CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF PHYSICIANS, THE STATE BOARD OF 19
NURSING, AND POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL, shall identify and develop 20
training programs that improve early identification of [postpartum depression and ] 21
perinatal [mood and anxiety disorders ] MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS 22
THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MAY USE TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF § 1–231 OF THE 23
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE. 24

(b) The programs IDENTIFIED OR developed under subsection (a) of this section 25
shall include continuing medical educat ion programs developed by organizations that are 26
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education. 27

(C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROV IDE A LIST OF TRAINI NG PROGRAMS 28
IDENTIFIED OR DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION ON REQUEST. 29

20–1804. 30

(A) THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE STATE BOARD OF 31
PHYSICIANS AND THE STATE BOARD OF NURSING, SHALL DEVELOP A PERI NATAL 32
MENTAL HEALTH CONDITION SCREENING PROGRAM. 33
SENATE BILL 891 11

(B) THE PROGRAM DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 1
SHALL REQUIRE A A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER WHO EVALUATES AND MA NAGES 2
PREGNANCY OR POSTPAR TUM CARE WHILE ACTIN G WITHIN THE SCOPE O F THE 3
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ’S LICENSE OR CERTIFI CATE TO SHALL CONDUCT A 4
SCREENING FOR PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS: 5

(1) AT EACH PRENATAL VISIT; 6

(2) AT LEAST ONCE WITHIN 6 WEEKS AFTER THE INSU RED OR 7
ENROLLEE GAVE BIRTH; AND 8

(3) AT EACH AT WELL CHILD VISIT VISITS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF 9
THE CHILD’S LIFE, AS DETERMINED APPROPRIATE BY THE TREATING HEALTH CARE 10
PROVIDER. 11

(C) (B) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDEN TIFY ACCEPTABLE 12
SCREENING TOOLS FOR CONDUCTING THE SCREE NINGS REQUIRED UNDER 13
SUBSECTION (B) (A) OF THIS SECTION. 14

(2) THE SCREENING TOOLS I DENTIFIED UNDER PARA GRAPH (1) OF 15
THIS SUBSECTION SHAL L BE VALIDATED , ROUTINELY USED , FREE, EASY TO 16
ADMINISTER AND SCORE, AND AVAILABLE IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES. 17

(D) (C) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ASSIST HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH 18
ACCESSING RESOURCES AND REFERRAL SERVICE S THROUGH MARYLAND 19
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH INTEGRATION IN PEDIATRIC PRIMARY CARE, MATERNAL 20
HEALTH INNOVATION PROGRAM, AND POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL TO 21
ASSIST PROVIDERS IN FINDING TIMELY AND E FFECTIVE CARE FOR IN DIVIDUALS 22
IDENTIFIED AS AT RIS K FOR A PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 23
CONDITION. 24

Article – Health Occupations 25

1–231. 26

(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO AN APPLICANT A LICENSEE OR 27
CERTIFICATE HOLDER WHO EVALUATES AND MA NAGES PREGNANCY OR 28
POSTPARTUM PERINATAL CARE WHILE ACTING WI THIN THE SCOPE OF TH E 29
APPLICANT’S LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE. 30

(B) (1) SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , AN 31
APPLICANT FOR THE RENEWAL OF A LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY A HEALTH 32
12 SENATE BILL 891

OCCUPATIONS BOARD UNDER THIS ARTICLE WHO INTERACTS WITH THE PERINATAL 1
POPULATION SHALL PRO VIDE SATISFACTORY DO CUMENTATION WITH THE 2
RENEWAL APPLICA TION THAT THE APPLIC ANT HAS COMPLETED AT LEAST TWO 3
CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT HOURS EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD THAT 4
REQUIRES A LICENSEE OR CERTIFICATE HOLDE R TO COMPLETE CONTIN UING 5
EDUCATION AS A CONDI TION OF THE RENEWAL OF THE LICENSE OR CE RTIFICATE 6
SHALL GRANT AT LEAST 2 HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR EVERY 7
1 HOUR OF CONTINUING E DUCATION COMPLETED B Y THE LICENSEE OR 8
CERTIFICATE HOLDER ON PERINATAL MENTAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CONDITIONS 9
IDENTIFIED BY THE DEPARTMENT UNDER § 20–1803 OF THE HEALTH – GENERAL 10
ARTICLE. 11

(2) THE CONTINUING EDUCAT ION REQUIREMENT UNDE R 12
PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION SHALL APPLY ONLY TO AN APPLICANT’S FIRST 13
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE RENEWAL AFTER APRIL 1, 2027. 14

(C) EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIO NS BOARD MAY ADOPT R EGULATIONS TO 15
CARRY OUT THIS SECTI ON, INCLUDING REGULATION S SPECIFYING WHICH 16
PROVIDERS ARE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION ESTABLISHING 17
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER O F CONTINUING EDUCATI ON CREDITS THAT MAY BE 18
GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION. 19

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before December 1, 20
2026, the Maryland Health Care Commission shall: 21

(1) conduct an analysis in accordance with § 15 –1501 of the Insurance 22
Article on impact of: 23

(i) requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, the State 24
Health Plan, and insurers and nonprofit health service plans that provide hospital, 25
medical, or surgical benefits to individuals or groups on an expense –incurred basis under 26
health insurance policies or contracts that are issued or delivered in the State and health 27
maintenance organizations that provide hospital, medical, or surgical benefits to 28
individuals or groups under contract that are issued or delivered in the State to provide 29
coverage for screening for perinatal behavioral health conditions: 30

1. at each prenatal visit; 31

2. at least once within 6 weeks after the insured or enrollee 32
gave birth; and 33

3. at each well child visit within the first year of the child’s 34
life; and 35

SENATE BILL 891 13

(ii) prohibiting the entities described in item (i) of this item from 1
subjecting the coverage required under item (i) of this item from: 2

1. imposing a copayment or coinsurance requirement or 3
deductible that is greater than the copayment or coinsurance requ irement or deductible 4
imposed by the entity for similar coverages; or 5

2. imposing any copayment or coinsurance requirement or 6
deductible; and 7

(2) report to the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health 8
Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State Government Article, on its findings 9
from the analysis conducted in accordance with paragraph (1) of this section. 10

SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this Act shall 11
apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the 12
State on or after January 1, 2027. 13

SECTION 4. 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 Sections 1 and 2 14
of this Act shall take effect January 1, 2027. 15

SECTION 5. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in 16
Section 4 5 of this Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 2026 July 1, 2026. 17

Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.