Bill > SB19

This bill establishes the Maryland Commission on Women's Health Advancement, a group tasked with studying the feasibility of creating a state women's hospital in Southern Maryland and a statewide network of clinics to improve women's healthcare across their lifespans. The Commission will be composed of various members, including state legislators, the Attorney General, healthcare professionals from different specialties, patient advocates, experts on health disparities, representatives from academic institutions, insurance professionals, and technical experts, with an aim to reflect the state's diversity. The Commission's duties include analyzing the need for a centralized women's hospital and outpatient clinics, identifying existing healthcare gaps, assessing the financial viability and initiating a certificate of need for such a facility, and exploring alternative models like a coordinated network of existing services. The Commission is required to submit an initial action plan by January 1, 2027, annual interim reports through 2032, and a final report by December 1, 2032, detailing its findings and recommendations on the need, funding, implementation, and structure of the proposed women's health initiatives. This Act will take effect on July 1, 2026, and will remain in effect for seven years, automatically expiring on June 30, 2033.