Bill > HB1093

This bill aims to streamline and improve the process by which healthcare providers join insurance carrier networks, known as provider panels, and ensures that patient information in provider directories is more accurate and up-to-date. Key provisions include shortening the timeframe for carriers (which are insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, dental plan organizations, or other entities providing health benefit plans) to notify providers about the status of their application, from 30 days to 5 days, and reducing the overall processing time for applications. It also establishes civil penalties for carriers that fail to meet these notification deadlines, requiring them to pay $500 per day to the provider for each day the notice is late. The bill eliminates the ability for carriers to charge application fees for providers seeking to join their panels and mandates that carriers use a designated online credentialing system as the primary source for creating and updating their provider directories, with specific requirements for how frequently these directories must be updated online. Furthermore, it clarifies that carriers cannot limit the number of certain essential providers, such as behavioral health providers, federally qualified health centers, and local health departments, that can be credentialed.

Health and Social Services

https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/HB1093?ys=2026RS