HB 813

Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization

Sponsor: Ashanti Martinez (District 22)Committee: HealthSubject: Public HealthStatus: Conference Committee Appointed (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing, beginning January 1, 2027, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide comprehensive coverage for the treatment of obesity; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide notice to Program recipients if the Department elects to provide the comprehensive coverage; and requiring by January 1, 2027, the Maryland Department of Health to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a State plan amendment that authorizes the State to provide comprehensive coverage for the treatment of obesity.

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 (23)

MGA witness list

FAV 19FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gorham, Millicent	Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention	Written (PDF)
FAV	Billger, Monica	American Diabetes Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Rev. Kimberly	Choose Healthy Life	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bartolomeo, Kathleen	GCAN, MCRT	Position only
FAV	Dani, Advika	Johns Hopkins General Preventive Medicine Residency	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ogunwole, Michelle	Johns Hopkins School of Medicine	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rajagopal, Selvi	Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hinojosa, Amy	MANA, A National Latina Organization	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Murphy, JD	MD Chesapeake Chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)	Position only
FAV	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Patel, Mihir	University of Maryland School of Medicine	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	CHAUDHRY, ZOOBIA	Individual	Oral
FAV	Delegate Martinez, Delegate Martinezlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Vaidya, Susma	Individual	Oral
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Price, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	Position only
FWA	Hoffstein, Barbara	Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Roberts, Megan	Obesity medical treatment	Oral

Organizations on record

Alliance for Women's Health and PreventionFAV 1

American Diabetes AssociationFAV 1

Choose Healthy LifeFAV 1

Concerned CitizenUNF 1

GCAN, MCRTFAV 1

Johns Hopkins General Preventive Medicine ResidencyFAV 1

Johns Hopkins School of MedicineFAV 1

Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineFAV 1

MANA, A National Latina OrganizationFAV 1

Maryland Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsFWA 1

Maryland Psychological AssociationFAV 1

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

Obesity medical treatmentFWA 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 1

University of Maryland School of MedicineFAV 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVPaddy, MichaelPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Chase Brexton Health System; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gaudenzia, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.…