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MarylandHB 06842026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Health Insurance - Material Changes to Provider Networks - Notification and Special Enrollment Period

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Health - InsuranceClaimsComplaintsContracts -see also- ProcurementElectronic CommunicationFines -see also- Penalties and SentencesFormsHealth Care Facilities -see also- Clinics; Hospices; etcHealth Insurance -see also- ACA; HMOs; MCOsHealth Occupations -see also- (specific health occupations)Hospitals -see also- Clinics; State HospitalsInsurance AdministrationMedical TreatmentsMental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc.NoticesReimbursementsTelephonesTermination of ServicesTime

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

90-day continued care and clear notices

Beginning October 1, 2026, your plan must tell you when your primary care doctor leaves the network, and when a behavioral health provider who saw you in the last 3 months leaves. You can ask to keep seeing that provider for up to 90 days after the notice, unless the provider left for fraud, patient abuse, incompetence, or loss of license. During this time, the plan must pay under the old contract, and the provider must accept that payment plus your normal copay or coinsurance as payment in full—no balance billing. The notice must include how to send comments, how to request continued care using the state’s standard form, and the complaint office phone and email. The state creates a uniform form for these requests. “Provider” means a practitioner or facility on a plan’s provider panel.

Special enrollment when your doctor leaves

Beginning October 1, 2026, if a provider you see on a regular basis is removed from your plan, you and your dependents get a 90-day special enrollment period. The window starts on the termination date, or the date you get the notice if you were not told before. You can change plans on or off the state marketplace. If you enroll, you can choose coverage to start the first day of the next month or the first day of the month when the termination happened.

Protections when insurer and hospital split

Beginning October 1, 2026, carriers and health systems must give at least 90 days’ written notice before ending or not renewing a contract. For contracts entered into, renewed, amended, or continued on or after that date, if the contract ends, they must keep the contract’s payment terms and patient balance‑billing protections for at least 90 days after the end date. Payment terms apply back to the end date unless both sides agree otherwise in writing. Also starting October 1, 2026, health systems must follow the same provider‑network notice and continuation rules that insurers follow.

Stricter filings and fines for network cuts

Beginning October 1, 2026, if losing a provider or facility would materially change a plan’s network, the carrier must notify the Insurance Commissioner at least 60 days before. The carrier must file an access-plan update within 5 business days after the termination takes effect and keep the Commissioner updated. The update may list just the affected specialties and areas unless the whole network shrank by 10% or more. The Commissioner can order fixes and fine the carrier $5,000 per day after those 5 business days.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 173 • No: 7

Senate vote • 4/13/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 47 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2026

Third Reading Passed

Yes: 126 • No: 7 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by the Governor - Chapter 651

    5/26/2026

  2. Returned Passed

    4/13/2026House

  3. Third Reading Passed (47-0)

    4/13/2026Senate

  4. Second Reading Passed

    4/10/2026Senate

  5. Favorable Adopted

    4/10/2026Senate

  6. Favorable Report by Finance

    4/10/2026Senate

  7. Hearing 3/25 at 1:00 p.m.

    3/20/2026Senate

  8. Referred Finance

    3/19/2026Senate

  9. Third Reading Passed (126-7)

    3/18/2026House

  10. Second Reading Passed with Amendments

    3/17/2026House

  11. Favorable with Amendments {193820/1 Adopted

    3/17/2026House

  12. Favorable with Amendments Report by Health

    3/16/2026House

  13. Hearing 2/19 at 1:30 p.m.

    2/19/2026House

  14. Hearing canceled

    2/19/2026House

  15. Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/5/2026House

  16. Hearing canceled

    2/5/2026House

  17. Hearing 2/12 at 1:00 p.m.

    2/4/2026House

  18. First Reading Health

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enacted

    5/26/2026

    PDF

  • Third Reading

    3/17/2026

    PDF

  • First Reading

    2/2/2026

    PDF

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