Bill > SB229

This bill proposes to permanently remove the sunset provision (expiration date) for the user fee assessment authority of the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC). Currently, the law allows the HSCRC to assess user fees on hospitals and related healthcare facilities, with specific limitations: the total fees cannot exceed 0.1% of the previous year's hospital revenue or the largest amount assessed in the past five years, and cannot exceed the Special Fund appropriation by more than 20%. These user fees are exclusively used to cover the Commission's direct operational and administrative costs, and are paid into a dedicated Health Services Cost Review Commission Fund. By repealing the sunset clause that would have automatically terminated this provision on June 30, 2025, the bill ensures that the HSCRC can continue to assess these user fees indefinitely, providing a stable funding mechanism for the Commission's regulatory activities. The bill will take effect on June 1, 2025, which allows the current user fee assessment authority to continue without interruption.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

Finance (S)

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0229?ys=2025RS