SB 496

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

Sponsor: Stephen S. Hershey, Jr. (District 36)Committee: FinanceSubject: Public HealthStatus: Enacted under Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution - Chapter 866 (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; authorizing the Department to apply to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for a State plan amendment authorizing the State to provide comprehensive coverage for the treatment of obesity; etc.

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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 (39)

MGA witness list

FAV 35FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 2Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Gorham, Millicent	Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention	Written (PDF)
FAV	Gorham, Millicent	Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention	Written (PDF)
FAV	Billger, Monica	American Diabetes Association	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Billger, Monica	American Diabetes Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Peoples, Kennedy	Association of Black Cardiologists	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Williams, Rev. Kimberly	Choose Healthy Life	Written (PDF)
FAV	Price, Suzanne	Concerned Citizen	Position only
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	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	Rios, MD, Elena	National Hispanic Health Foundation	Written (PDF)
FAV	Weinstock, Britt	National Minority Quality Forum	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Altepeter, Tara	OMA	Written (PDF)
FAV	McLaughlin, Darcy	Obesity Medicine Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Patel, Mihir	University of Maryland School of Medicine	Oral
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kaplowitz, Richard KAP	Year	Written (PDF)
FAV	Apollon, Jocelyn	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Bode, Claire	Individual	Position only
FAV	CHAUDHRY, ZOOBIA	Individual	Oral
FAV	Hershey, Steve	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lainez, Julio	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Lang, Alan	Individual	Position only
FAV	Massie, Nikki	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Hershey, Senator Hersheylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Hershey, Senator Hersheylegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Tibbals, Trudy	Individual	Position only
FAV	Vaidya, Susma	Individual	Oral
FAV	Vetter, Drew	Individual	Written (PDF)
UNF	Meyerovich, Mark	Individual	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 2

American Diabetes AssociationFAV 2

Association of Black CardiologistsFAV 1

Choose Healthy LifeFAV 1

Concerned CitizenFAV 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 2

National Hispanic Health FoundationFAV 1

National Minority Quality ForumFAV 1

Obesity medical treatmentFWA 1

Obesity Medicine AssociationFAV 1

OMAFAV 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

University of Maryland School of MedicineFAV 1

YearFAV 2

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.…