Bill > HB1531

This bill establishes the Maryland Helping Everyone Afford Life-Saving Treatments and Health Care (HEALTH) Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund to provide financial assistance for health care costs related to legally protected health care services and benefits that are subject to federal funding restrictions. The fund will be administered by the Executive Director of the Exchange and will receive revenue from various sources, including a portion of funds from abandoned property sales, remaining funds from the Abortion Care Clinical Training Program Fund starting in fiscal year 2027, sales and use tax revenue attributable to persons taxed under Title 6 of the Insurance Article, state property tax revenue attributable to persons taxed under Title 6 of the Insurance Article, private donations, and state budget appropriations. The fund's primary purpose is to assist Maryland Medical Assistance Program enrollees, insured individuals, and uninsured individuals with these specific health care costs, with grants being provided to healthcare providers who deliver these services to eligible individuals. The bill also mandates that the fund's Executive Director submit an annual report to the General Assembly detailing the fund's finances and use, and specifies that the Act takes effect on July 1, 2026.