Bill > SB506

This bill requires elementary and secondary schools, as well as county school systems in Maryland, to strategically use reimbursement funds received from the Maryland Medical Assistance Program or the Maryland Children's Health Insurance Program for specific workforce development and retention purposes. The bill defines "providers" as school-based health care practitioners like audiologists, psychologists, speech pathologists, and other health care professionals who serve students in school settings. The reimbursement funds must be used to create additional provider positions, offer paid internships for students pursuing careers as providers, provide stipends to address provider recruitment and retention challenges, and specifically offer additional stipends for providers working in low-performing schools to encourage them to work in these more challenging educational environments. The Department of Education is required to develop regulations to implement these requirements, and the bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025. The overall goal appears to be improving healthcare services and support for students by creating more attractive professional opportunities for school-based healthcare providers.

Education

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0506?ys=2025RS