Bill > SB699

This bill prohibits health insurance providers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) from charging patients more for covered physical therapy services than they would charge for an annual physical or wellness visit under the same insurance plan. This means that the out-of-pocket costs like copayments (a fixed amount paid per service), coinsurance (a percentage of the cost paid by the patient), and deductibles (the amount paid before insurance coverage kicks in) for physical therapy cannot be higher than those for a routine check-up. The bill defines "physical therapy services" as those provided by a licensed physical therapist within their scope of practice and applies to policies and contracts issued or renewed in Maryland starting January 1, 2027, with the goal of making physical therapy more affordable and accessible.