Bill > HB869

This bill permanently extends and modifies Maryland's telehealth regulations across multiple areas of healthcare. It removes the previous temporary timeframe (July 2021 to June 2025) for telehealth reimbursement, ensuring that the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and health insurers must continue to reimburse healthcare providers for telehealth services at the same rate as in-person services. The bill introduces new requirements for telehealth providers, including maintaining the same standard of care as in-person services and performing appropriate clinical evaluations before treatment. It also modifies regulations around prescribing controlled substances through telehealth, now allowing such prescriptions when there is an established practitioner-patient relationship or during a state emergency. Additionally, the bill mandates that the health commission submit a report every four years (beginning in 2026) detailing advancements in telehealth, including evolving delivery methods and cost changes. By making these changes, the bill aims to preserve and standardize telehealth access in Maryland, ensuring patients can continue to receive healthcare services remotely with the same quality and coverage as traditional in-person care.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB0869?ys=2025RS