Bill > SB496

This bill, beginning January 1, 2027, allows the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, which is a government-funded health insurance program for low-income residents, to offer comprehensive coverage for obesity treatment. This comprehensive coverage, as defined in the bill, can include intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery, and any medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for chronic weight management in individuals with obesity. The program can also use utilization management, which is a process to ensure treatments are medically necessary and appropriate, to determine eligibility for these services, provided it's done in the same way as for other illnesses. If the Maryland Department of Health decides to provide this coverage, they are required to notify program recipients. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Health report to legislative committees by November 1, 2027, on whether this obesity treatment coverage has been implemented and, if not, the reasons why.

Budget and Finance

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0496?ys=2026RS