HB 377

Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners

Sponsor: Steve Johnson (District 34A)Committee: HealthSubject: Health OccupationsStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 223 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Altering certain provisions of law to include physician assistants in the health care practitioners who may take certain actions, including actions related to the guardianship of disabled persons, admission of individuals to mental health facilities, and the Emergency and Allergy Treatment Program; altering the health care practitioners that may order that a pregnant incarcerated individual be admitted to the infirmary; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to cover certain charges for certain emergency evaluees; etc.

AI analysis is off. Set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY to enable summaries, pros and cons, and questions.

Analysis reads the bill text, the fiscal note, and the witness list. It is generated by Claude and reviewed by nobody, so check the source documents before you rely on it.

Testimony (22)

MGA witness list

FAV 13FavorableFWA 4Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schutz, Kelly	Individual Physician Assistant - Emergency Department	Oral
FAV	Floyd, Brandonlobbyist	Johns Hopkins	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bridge Najera, Deanna	Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants	Oral
FAV	Tran, Michael	Maryland Board of Physicians	Oral
FAV	Krienke, Janelobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	fernandes, priyanka	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carter, Alita-Geri	Qualequity Access	Position only
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Johnson, S., Delegate Johnson, S.legislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Gallant, Judith	Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work	Position only
UNF	Williams, Krystal	MD Office of the Public Defender	Written (PDF)
UNF	Varghese, Sanjeev	Maryland Office of the Public Defender	Oral
UNF	Bogley, Laura	Maryland Right to Life	Written (PDF)
UNF	Jones, Lisalobbyist	The Maryland Psychiatric Society & Washington Psychiatric Society Legislative Action Committee	Written (PDF)
FWA	Maryland Academy of Audiology, Advocacy	Maryland Academy of Audiology	Written (PDF)
FWA	Bode, Claire	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Daviss, Steve	Individual	Oral
FWA	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social WorkUNF 1

Individual Physician Assistant - Emergency DepartmentFAV 1

Johns HopkinsFAV 1

Maryland Academy of AudiologyFWA 1

Maryland Academy of Physician AssistantsFAV 1

Maryland Board of PhysiciansFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

Maryland Right to LifeUNF 1

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

MD Office of the Public DefenderUNF 1

Qualequity AccessFAV 1

The Maryland Psychiatric Society & Washington Psychiatric Society Legislative Action CommitteeUNF 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMills, MorganCompass Government RelationsRegistered for: Alley Cat Allies; CFG Health Network; Coinbase, Inc.; Girl Scouts of Central Maryland; Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The; Maryland Association for Justice, Inc.…

FAVFloyd, BrandonJohns HopkinsRegistered for: Johns Hopkins

FAVKrienke, JaneMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association

FAVElliott, RobynRegistered for: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists; Amica Center for Immigrant Rights; CareForth; Chase Brexton Health System; Coordinating Center, The; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition…

UNFJones, LisaThe Maryland Psychiatric Society & Washington Psychiatric Society Legislative Action CommitteeRegistered for: Aligned Data Centers; American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants, Inc.; Associated Black Charities; Associated Builders & Contractors; Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) on behalf of National Strategies, LLC; Atmosphere Data Centers LLC…