SB 205

Health Insurance - Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders - Codification of Federal Requirements

Sponsor: Chair, Finance CommitteeCommittee: FinanceSubject: Health - InsuranceStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 12 (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Codifying in State law certain provisions of the Code of Federal Regulations related to mental health parity and clarifying the authority of the Maryland Insurance Administration to enforce certain laws; requiring health insurance carriers to collect and report on data in a certain manner; requiring health insurance carriers to provide certain benefits under certain circumstances; requiring health insurance carriers to explain differences in access to care under certain circumstances; 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 (55)

MGA witness list

FAV 52FavorableUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rabbitt, Dan	Behavioral Health System Baltimore	Written (PDF)
FAV	Carlock, Ruth	Brain Injury Association of Maryland	Position only
FAV	Willing, Laura	Children's National Hospital	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Mills, Morganlobbyist	Compass Government Relations	Written (PDF)
FAV	Guthrie, Cari	Cornerstone Montgomery	Written (PDF)
FAV	O'Brien, Megan	EveryMind	Written (PDF)
FAV	Clark, Ashleylobbyist	Harris Jones & Malone, LLC	Written (PDF)
FAV	Cheevers, Cara	Inseparable	Oral
FAV	Lloyd, Davidlobbyist	Inseparable	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Dausch, Connie	MD Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dausch, Connie	MD Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Arias, Dianelobbyist	Maryland Catholic Conference	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Blackfield, Anne	Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Grant, Marie	Maryland Insurance Administration	Written (PDF)
FAV	Dickerson, Taylor	Maryland Psychological Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Yeung, Estelle	Maryland Rural Health Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Keller, Emily	Maryland's Office of Overdose Response	Written (PDF)
FAV	Keller, Emily	Maryland's Office of Overdose Response	Written (PDF)
FAV	Martin, Dan	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Serkin, Celia	Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc.	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosen-Cohen, Nancy	NCADD-Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
FAV	Ciekot, Annlobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Oral
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Rosier, Collanlobbyist	Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.	Position only
FAV	Oppler, Amanda	St. Mary's County Health Department	Written (PDF)
FAV	Schneider, Glennlobbyist	The Horizon Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mansfield, Andrealobbyist	Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Mansfield, Andrealobbyist	Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Chair, Finance Committee, Chair, Finance Committee	Individual	Oral
FAV	Chair, Finance Committee, Chair, Finance Committee	Individual	Oral
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Hall, Shannonlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Hessler, Thereselobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Krone, Christinelobbyist	Individual	Position only
FAV	Mauer, William	Individual	Position only
FAV	Steinberg, Deborahlobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Cohen, Kathryn	Association of Behavioral Health and Wellness	Written (PDF)
UNF	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland	Written (PDF)
UNF	Sharpless, Bradford	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 1

Association of Behavioral Health and WellnessUNF 1

Behavioral Health System BaltimoreFAV 1

Brain Injury Association of MarylandFAV 1

Children's National HospitalFAV 1

Compass Government RelationsFAV 1

Cornerstone MontgomeryFAV 1

EveryMindFAV 1

Harris Jones & Malone, LLCFAV 1

InseparableFAV 2

League of Life & Health Insurers of MarylandUNF 1

Maryland Catholic ConferenceFAV 2

Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD)FAV 2

Maryland Health Care CommissionFAV 1

Maryland Insurance AdministrationFAV 2

Maryland Psychological AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Rural Health AssociationFAV 1

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 2

Maryland's Office of Overdose ResponseFAV 2

MD Association for the Treatment of Opioid DependenceFAV 2

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

Montgomery County Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, Inc.FAV 1

NCADD-MarylandFAV 2

OAGFAV 2

Public Policy PartnersFAV 3

Pyramid Healthcare, Inc.FAV 1

St. Mary's County Health DepartmentFAV 1

The Horizon FoundationFAV 1

Towing and Recovery Professionals of MarylandFAV 2

YearFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

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…

FAVLloyd, DavidInseparableRegistered for: Inseparable Action Inc.

FAVArias, DianeMaryland Catholic ConferenceRegistered for: Maryland Catholic Conference

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

FAVCiekot, AnnPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; B'More Clubhouse; Baltimore City Substance Abuse Directorate; Bard College; CareForth; Children's Advocacy Institute…

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.…

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

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

FAVMansfield, AndreaTowing and Recovery Professionals of MarylandRegistered for: HDR Engineering, Inc.; Adventist HealthCare, Inc.; Alkermes; Alterwood Health, Inc.; American Chemistry Council; Amrize North America Inc., formerly Holcim Participations (US) Inc.…

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…

FAVHall, ShannonRegistered for: Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland

FAVHessler, ThereseRegistered for: City of Gaithersburg; Elevate Recovery Centers; Evolve Kids Care; Evolve Life Centers; High Roller Technologies; Laila's Gift…

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…

FAVKrone, ChristineRegistered for: American Coatings Association; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; City of Rockville; Coordinating Center for Home and Community Care, The, LLC (dba The Coordinating Center); Greater Washington Society for Clinical Social Work, Inc.; LifeSpan Network…

FAVSteinberg, DeborahRegistered for: Legal Action Center

UNFCelentano, MatthewLeague of Life & 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…