HB 1563

Enacted

Emergency Room Services and Post-Acute Care - Coverage and Facility Studies

Sponsor: SpeakerCommittee: HealthSubject: Public HealthStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 165 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Authorizing the Maryland Insurance Commission to conduct an examination of certain decisions by carriers related to claims or authorization requests for services in, or related to services, in emergency departments; requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission, in conjunction with the Health Services Cost Review Commission, to conduct a study to quantify bed capacity in hospitals and post-acute settings in the State and make a recommendation on a certain collection and auditing process; 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 (37)

MGA witness list

FAV 29FavorableFWA 3Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	DeMinco, Lynne	BCRW	Position only
FAV	Lepore, Janice	Health Services Cost Review Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ball, Calvin	Howard County Office of County Executive	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Taylor, Allisonlobbyist	Kaiser Permanente	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kromm, Jonathan	Maryland HSCRC	Oral
FAV	Kromm, Jonathan	Maryland HSCRC	Oral
FAV	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Nicklas, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Nicklas, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Sexton, Jamie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bhandari, Harry	Office of Delegate harry Bhandari	Oral
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hopwood, Erin	Speaker's Staff	Oral
FAV	Peña-Melnyk, Joseline	Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peña-Melnyk, Joseline	Speaker, Maryland House of Delegates	Written (PDF)
FAV	Celentano, Matt	The League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	Speaker, Speaker	Individual	Oral
FAV	State of, Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Lake, Keith	AHIP - Washington, DC	Written (PDF)
UNF	Quigley, Tinnalobbyist	CareFirst	Oral
UNF	Case-Herron, Sarahlobbyist	Funk & Bolton, P.A.	Oral
UNF	Taylor, Allisonlobbyist	Kaiser Permanente	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Lerol, Travis	Travis Lerol	Position only
FWA	Lepore, Janice	Health Services Cost Review Commission	Written (PDF)
FWA	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 2

AHIP - Washington, DCUNF 1

BCRWFAV 1

CareFirstUNF 1

Funk & Bolton, P.A.UNF 1

Health Services Cost Review CommissionFAV 1FWA 1

Howard County Office of County ExecutiveFAV 1

Kaiser PermanenteFAV 1UNF 1

Maryland Health Care CommissionFAV 1FWA 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 2

Maryland HSCRCFAV 2

Maryland Insurance AdministrationFAV 3

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1

Office of Delegate harry BhandariFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

Speaker, Maryland House of DelegatesFAV 2

Speaker's StaffFAV 1

The League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandFAV 1

Travis LerolUNF 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemFAV 1

YearFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

FAVTaylor, AllisonKaiser PermanenteRegistered for: Kaiser Permanente

FAVNicklas, AndrewMaryland Hospital AssociationRegistered for: Maryland Hospital Association; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.

FAVPeters, MeganMaryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)Registered for: Alzheimer's Association

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.…

FAVKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…

UNFQuigley, TinnaCareFirstRegistered for: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

UNFCase-Herron, SarahFunk & Bolton, P.A.Registered 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…

UNFTaylor, AllisonKaiser PermanenteRegistered for: Kaiser Permanente

FWAKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…