HB 637

Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)

Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: HealthSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 7 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services based on certain evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance; requiring the Secretary, before adopting a recommendation for a certain preventive service, to hold a notice and comment period, obtain a certain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and cite the basis for the recommendation; altering the health insurance coverage requirements for certain immunizations, screenings, and services; 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 (59)

MGA witness list

FAV 36FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 22Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Soileau-Burke, Monique	American Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland Chapter	Oral
FAV	Morris, Austinlobbyist	Children's National Hospital	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ashton, Monique	City of Rockville	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	DeMarco, Jamie	DeMarco Advocacy	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dier, Hannah	Governor's Office	Oral
FAV	Diamond, Joanna	Health Care for the Homeless	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lindamood, Kevin	Health Care for the Homeless	Oral
FAV	Miller Smith, Nora	League of Women Voters Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, JD	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Vazquez, Javier	Maryland Board of Pharmacy	Oral
FAV	Kirk Robins, Catherinelobbyist	Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Roques, Carmel	Maryland Department of Aging	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
FAV	Seshamani, Meena	Maryland Department of Health	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sullivan, Meg	Maryland Department of Health - Public Health Services	Oral
FAV	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Robinson, Gabrielle	Maryland Healthcare For All! Coalition	Oral
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Horton, Aliyahlobbyist	Maryland Pharmacists Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Laura	Montgomery County Counseling Center	Position only
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Luke	Planned Parenthood of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Collins, Jocelynlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Goldstein, Mathew	Secular Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hampton, Lorenzo	University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Baker, Kimberly	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bode, Claire	Individual	Position only
FAV	Duggirala, Amar	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kabara, Ilona	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	DeMinco, Lynne	BCRW	Position only
UNF	Tarsel, Emily	Health Choice Maryland.org	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Garrett, Catherine	Love Maryland PAC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	MONTGOMERY, MEGAN	Love Maryland PAC	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Dreisch, Susan	Moms for Liberty	Position only
UNF	Brocato, Deborah	Individual	Position only
UNF	Butler, Jenna	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Cusack, Sarah	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Daigle, Lauren	Individual	Position only
UNF	Daly, Denee	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Ferrell, Valerie	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Hibbert Nelson, Annette	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Kapper, Jill	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Macdonald, Gregg	Individual	Position only
UNF	Macdonald, Terry	Individual	Position only
UNF	McCullough, Karen	Individual	Position only
UNF	McShane, Jolie	Individual	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Nelson, Mary	Individual	Position only
UNF	Sienna, Joan	Individual	Position only
UNF	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Written (PDF)
FWA	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	The League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

American Academy of Pediatrics, Maryland ChapterFAV 1

BCRWUNF 1

Children's National HospitalFAV 1

City of RockvilleFAV 1

DeMarco AdvocacyFAV 1

Governor's OfficeFAV 1

Health Care for the HomelessFAV 2

Health Choice Maryland.orgUNF 1

League of Women Voters MarylandFAV 1

Love Maryland PACUNF 2

Maryland Board of PharmacyFAV 1

Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.FAV 1

Maryland Department of AgingFAV 1

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthFAV 2

Maryland Department of Health - Public Health ServicesFAV 1

Maryland Health Care CommissionFAV 1

Maryland Healthcare For All! CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Insurance AdministrationFAV 1

Maryland Pharmacists AssociationFAV 1

MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)FAV 1

Moms for LibertyUNF 1

Montgomery County Counseling CenterFAV 1

OAGFAV 1

Planned Parenthood of MarylandFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

Secular MarylandFAV 1

The Horizon FoundationFAV 1

The League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandFWA 1

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of LawFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVMorris, AustinChildren's National HospitalRegistered for: Children's National Hospital; Children's National Health System

FAVKirk Robins, CatherineMaryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.Registered for: Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.

FAVHorton, AliyahMaryland Pharmacists AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Pharmacists Association

FAVCollins, JocelynPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Bard College; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gilead Sciences, Inc.; HealthCare Access Maryland…

FAVSchneider, GlennThe Horizon FoundationRegistered for: Horizon Foundation of Howard County, Inc., The

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…

FWACelentano, MatthewThe League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandRegistered for: 38 Degrees North; Advanced Energy United; Alliance of Maryland Dental Plans; Allstate Insurance Company; America's Health Insurance Plans; American Council of Life Insurers…