Bill > SB169

This bill requires hospitals with emergency departments to screen patients for an "emergency pregnancy-related medical condition," which is defined as a severe medical issue where immediate attention is needed to prevent serious harm to the patient's health, bodily functions, or organs. If such a condition is identified, the hospital must provide necessary treatment to "stabilize" the patient, meaning to alleviate the condition or ensure it won't worsen during transfer, and this treatment can include terminating the pregnancy if medically necessary to stabilize the patient. Hospitals are also prohibited from transferring a patient with an unstabilized emergency pregnancy-related medical condition unless it's done in accordance with federal law (42 U.S.C. § 1395DD, which governs emergency medical treatment and labor). The bill also protects healthcare providers from penalties if they refuse to authorize a transfer of an unstabilized patient or if their treatment aligns with medical standards to stabilize the patient, and it protects employees who report violations. Furthermore, it establishes civil penalties for hospitals that negligently violate these provisions, with fines varying based on hospital size, and outlines procedures for coordinating with federal investigations and potential refunds of fines. Importantly, this bill amends existing law to ensure that hospitals must allow the termination of a pregnancy when a healthcare practitioner determines it is medically necessary to stabilize a patient, overriding previous provisions that allowed hospitals to refuse such procedures.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0169?ys=2026RS