HB 886

Did not advance

Certified Peer Recovery Specialists - Coverage Under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance and Workgroup on Certification

Sponsor: Kevin B. Hornberger (District 35B)Committee: HealthSubject: Health - InsuranceStatus: Hearing 2/19 at 1:30 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations to provide coverage for services provided in any setting by certain certified peer recovery specialists; and requiring the Maryland Department of Health to convene a certain workgroup on the certification process of peer recovery specialists.

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 (32)

MGA witness list

FAV 29FavorableFWA 1Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Graziano, Lauren	Gaudenzia	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Coble, Annie	Johns Hopkins University & Medicine	Written (PDF)
FAV	Phillips, Robert	Maryland State Firefighter's Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Themelis, Nina	Mayor's Office of Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Geddes, Annlobbyist	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blalock, Kristy E.	Pyramid Healthcare	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosier, Collanlobbyist	Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Merrick, Suzette	Reflection House	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blumberg, Suanne	Upper Bay Counseling & Support Services	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Gill, Evan	Voices Of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	March, Gary	Voices Of Hope	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Astle, Rachael	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Breslin, Lauren	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hare, Kira	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Matthews, Sherry	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Murray, Catharine	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wesley, Diana	Voices of Hope	Written (PDF)
FAV	Merrick, William	Voices of Hope Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Angulo-Fleming, Julien	Voices of Hope, Inc	Written (PDF)
FAV	Wright, Aaron	Voices of Hope, Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Delegate Hornberger, Delegate Hornbergerlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Higdon, Thomas	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Karnes, Lauren	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	McKay, Mike	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Valera, Rogelio	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lynch, Meghan	Maryland Department of Health	Written (PDF)
UNF	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	The League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FWA	Kalina, Matt	Individual	Oral

Organizations on record

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

GaudenziaFAV 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFAV 1

Johns Hopkins University & MedicineFAV 1

Maryland Department of HealthUNF 1

Maryland State Firefighter's AssociationFAV 1

Mayor's Office of Government RelationsFAV 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

NCADD-MarylandFAV 1

Pyramid HealthcareFAV 1

Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.FAV 1

Reflection HouseFAV 1

The League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandUNF 1

Upper Bay Counseling & Support ServicesFAV 1

Voices of HopeFAV 6

Voices Of HopeFAV 2

Voices of Hope MarylandFAV 1

Voices of Hope, IncFAV 1

Voices of Hope, MarylandFAV 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.…

FAVClark, AshleyHarris Jones & Malone, LLCRegistered for: Beltway Fine Wine; Chesapeake Employers' Insurance Company; Community Associations Institute/Maryland Legislative Action Committee; Employ Prince George's, Inc.; Frederick Community College; Greater Baltimore Committee…

FAVGeddes, AnnMental Health Association of MarylandRegistered for: Mental Health Association of Maryland; Maryland Coalition of Families

FAVRosier, CollanPyramid Healthcare, Inc.Registered for: Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.

UNFCelentano, 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…