Bill > SB892

This bill modifies the membership of the State Advisory Council on Health and Wellness by adding the Executive Director of the Maryland Commission for Women and a representative with expertise in menopause-related evaluation and treatment, while slightly reducing the number of public members. It also mandates that health occupations boards, which require continuing education for license renewal, must grant at least two continuing education credits for every hour of training on menopause and menopause-associated symptoms, and the Department of Health will identify suitable training programs. Furthermore, insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) will be required to cover the evaluation and management of menopause and its associated symptoms, as determined by the treating healthcare provider, with these provisions taking effect for policies and contracts issued, delivered, or renewed on or after January 1, 2027. The bill also directs the Maryland Commission for Women to evaluate policy initiatives to improve the health and economic security of individuals experiencing menopause and the Department of Health to develop an action plan to increase access to menopause-related healthcare services through community health workers and evaluate methods for increasing clinical education on menopause treatment.