SB 494

Maryland Health Care Commission - Certificates of Need and Material Change Transactions

Sponsor: Pamela Beidle (District 32)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health Care Facilities and RegulationStatus: Hearing 2/24 at 1:00 p.m. (as of Sep 4, 2026)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Repealing the exemption from the certificate of need requirement for certain mergers; requiring certain health care entities to provide certain notice of a material change transaction to the Maryland Health Care Commission and the public; establishing a public interest review process for material change transactions, including criteria for determining whether a material change transaction is subject to a public interest review; etc.

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Testimony (29)

MGA witness list

FAV 16FavorableFWA 5Favorable with amendmentsUNF 5UnfavorableINFO 3Information only

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Westrick, Saralobbyist	AARP Maryland	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	DeMarco, Jamie	DeMarco Advocacy	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Roques, Carmel	Maryland Department of Aging	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jacobs, Douglas	Maryland Health Care Commission	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Plante, Cecilia	Maryland Legislative Coalition	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peters, Meganlobbyist	Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Martin, Dan	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	McNair, Lee	Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice Ministry	Position only
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	(MD), State of Maryland	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Beidle, Pamela	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jensen, Esq., Mark T.	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Jensen, Mark	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kabara, Ilona	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Klapper, Stephanielobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Senator Beidle, Senator Beidlelegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Bryce, Joe	Manis Canning and Associates	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Allen, Hannahlobbyist	Maryland Chamber of Commerce	Written (PDF)
UNF	Nicklas, Andrewlobbyist	Maryland Hospital Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
UNF	Tilburg, Will	University of Maryland Medical System	Written (PDF)
UNF	Wise, Steve	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Robinson, Kimberlylobbyist	CareFirst BlueCross BlueSheild	Oral
FWA	Taylor, Allisonlobbyist	Kaiser Permanente	Oral + Written (PDF)
FWA	Hoban, Nora	Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers	Written (PDF)
FWA	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	The League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland	Oral
FWA	Elliott, Robynlobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)
INFO	Shattuck, Daniellobbyist	Brocato & Shattuck	Oral
INFO	Williams, Irnise	OAG	Written (PDF)
INFO	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Written (PDF)

Organizations on record

AARP MarylandFAV 1

Brocato & ShattuckINFO 1

CareFirst BlueCross BlueSheildFWA 1

DeMarco AdvocacyFAV 1

Kaiser PermanenteFWA 1

Manis Canning and AssociatesUNF 1

Maryland Chamber of CommerceUNF 1

Maryland Department of AgingFAV 1

Maryland Health Care CommissionFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationUNF 1

Maryland Legislative CoalitionFAV 1

Maryland Senior Citizens Action Network (MSCAN)FAV 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health CentersFWA 1

OAGINFO 1

The League of Life and Health Insurers of MarylandFWA 1

Unitarian Universalist Environmental Justice MinistryFAV 1

University of Maryland Medical SystemUNF 1

YearFAV 1

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVWestrick, SaraAARP MarylandRegistered for: AARP Maryland

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

FAVKlapper, StephanieRegistered for: Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, Inc.

UNFAllen, HannahMaryland Chamber of CommerceRegistered for: Maryland Chamber of Commerce

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

FWARobinson, KimberlyCareFirst BlueCross BlueSheildRegistered for: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Cigna Corporate Services, LLC

FWATaylor, AllisonKaiser PermanenteRegistered for: Kaiser Permanente

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…

FWAElliott, 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…

INFOShattuck, DanielBrocato & ShattuckRegistered for: Acorn Health; American Physical Therapy Association Maryland - APTA MD; Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates, P.C.; Associates in Radiation Medicine; League for People with Disabilities, The; Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics…

INFOKauffman, 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…