[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6331973,"mediaKeyId","2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e","parentId",2309131,"title","Finance Committee advances several bills unanimously, holds or withdraws a handful","audioSeconds",478,"startMs",270000,"endMs",748000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e&start=270&end=748","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e/thumbnail_270000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6331973/Maryland/Finance-Committee-advances-several-bills-unanimously-holds-or-withdraws-a-handful","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331973-7199de1f11dce017bb0344412c5eb3ba/orig.mp4?Expires=1776631667&Signature=ib4MArZ4f~xwqryPtxB7Bl9ye-0fCFr8iaAdlbAyiT0B57eadzEjYoVacgoAbKwM3MIRnGe~WiE-LmsOvWD~ABt6BRsuFmw73dAkmpW5RRcCAj43Ap0yc~eK~RIjNpk-WFbrb2MnSdKSUbhuWM~x7pdCIZvAEZwz8az9AN4B-3J4ndyTjS6jpFyvPiCYPNF~YbBZ4l6L2IckBcfMRIie4qcfi-K7OTWrnM1fQzg5LbsJY38YM8qgH2Z0M1Yg5PfUEC6EUudW8DuSzoaaO2q~GvsP2u7wUAGoiznD67numFy9YyMYLveUSb42koOUX138xffidb9U5EJ-TBkH1SC0oA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","MGA - FIN","date","2025-02-13T00:00:00Z","article","During its Feb. 13 voting list session, the Senate Finance Committee acted on multiple bills with largely unanimous support, placed holds on two bills for possible amendment, and formally withdrew several bills from the voting list.

Notable actions:
- Senate Bill 413: The committee accepted chair-sponsored amendments that apply the statutory three-year contract standard more broadly to consumer contracts, exclude certain regulated entities, and delay the bill's effective date from Oct. 1, 2025, to June 1, 2026, at the request of the Maryland Bankers Association and Comcast. The committee approved the amended bill by unanimous vote.

- Senate Bill 459: Labeled an \"emergency use epinephrine\" measure, the bill replaces references to auto-injectable epinephrine with \"emergency use epinephrine\" to accommodate different delivery methods (for example, nasal sprays in addition to auto-injectors). The committee approved the bill with a unanimous vote.

- Holds: The chair asked that Senate Bill 124 be held for an amendment and also asked that Senate Bill 314 be held for a possible amendment.

- Withdrawals: The committee moved to mark the following bills \"unfavorable, withdrawn\" (motions carried unanimously): SB 799, SB 971, SB 607 (human remains transportation), SB 801 (Dorchester County alcoholic beverages issuance of a license in a place of worship). Two withdrawals had been on the list and two additional withdrawals were filed the same day.

The transcript indicates that many of the amendments were offered at the chair's request or in response to stakeholder requests (for example, banks and carriers). Most votes recorded in this portion of the session were unanimous voice votes; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies for these items in the excerpt provided.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","FIN Committee Session, 2/13/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","On Feb. 13 the Senate Finance Committee approved several bills unanimously (including SB 413, SB 459) and recorded holds and withdrawals on others; multiple bills were amended to address stakeholder requests.","taxTitle","Finance Committee, SENATE, SENATE, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15094,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331978,"Committee approves bill to make audio-only telehealth permanent, adds periodic technology study",133,608000,741000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e&start=608&end=741","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e/thumbnail_608000.jpg","/articles/6331978/Maryland/Committee-approves-bill-to-make-audio-only-telehealth-permanent-adds-periodic-technology-study","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331978-3a163751b2474e43546b11527010b07f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776631667&Signature=WFzhbIVzs8etOSH7815USvt5PmZh~urnuyXtCxTQkYzwhw4-zcadSINr~2zCfVbVC9EVF9ya45LEwBav2sW1jFck7XexyXyMJCtveYPMVE40xdPmA6ryoHez-9rsY5HJbsVnvgpNEZ7R~e0THoY9Ie2hdiEF3XJ~UCuzkYtZuaTPfYLOFZSa3jSj-aFDGuNoah3l7s94AZKJ0wKQ-miXH5FX9yQHxLHBsnvztNx0PkKRc7rgk5YgZEzN98MiQP7PTNJDFQaSW~Qug-0Vb9hQBaB9gGoQkuKANVHhTt57Y1IX6X3JiEYYN9bg0IizdKq~4fawdFNHztOXsVjLe6wy6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee voted unanimously on Feb. 13 to approve Senate Bill 372, the Preserve Telehealth Act of 2025, which would make the audio-only provision for telehealth permanent and add a requirement that the Maryland Health Care Commission study telehealth technology every four years.

A presenter reminded the committee that audio-only telehealth was added as a temporary expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic; the bill would make that audio-only authority permanent, citing the public-health-era expansion as the origin of the provision. The chair offered an amendment that requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to study the technology involved in telehealth programs every four years; the committee record indicates that the amendment was requested by health and government stakeholders and carriers.

Committee discussion included senators volunteering to be cosponsors; one senator asked that colleagues be added as cosponsors and the chair noted that many members wanted their names attached. The motion to pass the bill as amended carried by unanimous vote.

The amendment adds a scheduled technology review to the statute, which could inform future rulemaking or legislative changes; the transcript does not record details about funding for the Maryland Health Care Commission study or a timeline for the commission's report beyond the four-year periodicity.

The committee also recorded a number of votes elsewhere on the voting list during the same session; the telehealth bill was handled with an amendment offered by the chair and broad committee support.","Senate Bill 372 would permanently allow audio-only telehealth visits and requires the Maryland Health Care Commission to study telehealth technology every four years; the committee unanimously approved the amended bill.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331982,"Committee makes young-adult insurance subsidy permanent but bars implementation without funds",156,431000,587000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e&start=431&end=587","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e/thumbnail_431000.jpg","/articles/6331982/Maryland/Committee-makes-young-adult-insurance-subsidy-permanent-but-bars-implementation-without-funds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331982-8f43b6e325c0412150143a563e5ccee2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776631667&Signature=Tso6oazmxotvG01pvv18bvHgRIaLTvIVT~WA9Fwhw-Rftbn33SDjrs8i5DWbbzOUb45l9STq9ZCnIBaENQ7Ltxnv2qAGHpVbqoTBkPXxfcDZS-KzP1gMQlguzVtZdCfqQieVkngdAJZ9XSV5Bhmca-4cwjkJfB-uPtogT6MAfXYWMGw6QKa0hJWDRnBsi35DoSZ-iTxmfMGDiVyMGm6HTQ8wzCj1GNTEUetn5KmXoy5kMXEeX5JwpP1IzAzEqqxmztP-qbB2s7LF2LCSkfvNGFgjcnOLjERSwcitV~voASfiFs6JMPeDfbTxous7ubq0Iy-eKhx2xAKqgS8tuuGrFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Finance Committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 5 on Feb. 13, a bill to make the state's young-adult health insurance subsidy program permanent. The measure changes the statute language to authorize the program permanently and clarifies that the state health insurance exchange may not implement the program if no funds are available; the program’s funding comes from the state reinsurance program fund, the presenter said.

Committee discussion included remarks that the program, first created in 2021 and extended in 2023, has increased coverage among younger adults. A committee member asked about the age range covered under the subsidy; the presenter provided an approximate range in committee remarks, but committee speakers used slightly different figures in the transcript and the exact statutory age range was not specified in the materials before the committee during the recorded discussion.

Senator Lamb moved the bill, and Senator Reidy seconded the motion. The committee approved the bill by unanimous voice vote and the bill will continue through the legislative process.

The committee also discussed potential future budget implications; one senator said that if funds run short the General Assembly could later consider raising the assessment that supports the program. The transcript does not include a detailed fiscal note or a recorded estimate of the program's budgetary impact at this meeting.","Senate Bill 5 would make the state's young-adult health insurance subsidy program permanent but prevents the exchange from implementing the program if no funds exist; the committee approved the bill unanimously.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6331987,"Senate Finance Committee unanimously advances bill to require Medicaid coverage for home blood-pressure monitoring for specified conditions",96,172000,268000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e&start=172&end=268","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2309131-6c4765c43ddc6fd947c18d1f28ce437e/thumbnail_172000.jpg","/articles/6331987/Maryland/Senate-Finance-Committee-unanimously-advances-bill-to-require-Medicaid-coverage-for-home-blood-pressure-monitoring-for-specified-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6331987-910c0d827f00062b7e989dcb758ad64e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776631667&Signature=Y9ZkvMgxELD07CTMsnondffQbkGT96sWiGfaED9d5~m85tD0MfkNBYrG2FJjg77j3KYOh~MembPSpfs6JowhC9a6rrwq7N1RzlnqEGEAr0cqknUkx8KIE7po7t6-FumN3m~j40WnXfEWQ6ZP3bSamD3PsGixnI5dnQG0FGIO8PgCM9jwbbGJ1tSB1HjxjuoPnMnnfe91lEoS9I5plL7~8FIxLetnP3a3NEsQLgqwCR-8mnN1CB~H1PUDoht6EYD6kA0w2X8T1AeIcn~wjL17L7MqD8wYvlyMwiYSrn-RjlC2kJR4~8LL6dE5uHpY1e8GiHVCQ0nfyedT6DbS~ho4ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Finance Committee members voted unanimously to pass an amended Senate Bill 94 on Feb. 13, which would require Medicaid to cover self-measured blood-pressure monitoring — including validated home monitors and reimbursement for provider and staff time — for recipients who are pregnant, postpartum, or have diagnoses of chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease or cardiometabolic disease.

The bill’s sponsor or presenter summarized the measure and the amendment at the committee meeting, saying the amendment removes a required education campaign and reporting requirement and deletes a definition of “health care provider” from the bill. The presenter also said the amendment addressed concerns raised by the Department of Health and resolved some remaining fiscal issues.

The change shortens the bill’s requirements by removing the mandated public education campaign and the separate reporting duty but keeps the core coverage requirement: Medicaid plans would be required to provide validated home blood-pressure monitors and reimburse clinicians or other staff for the time spent supporting patients using the devices. Committee discussion was brief and focused on whether the bill carried additional Medicaid costs; a committee member asked if there was an associated cost, and the presenter responded that there was none identified in the materials provided to the committee.

Senator Justin Ellis moved the amended bill and Senator Hayes seconded the motion; the committee approved the bill by a unanimous voice vote.

The bill now moves forward from the Finance Committee with the change that eliminates the education and reporting pieces while retaining device coverage and reimbursement provisions. The transcript does not record further details about effective dates, implementation steps by the Medicaid agency, or a fiscal note beyond the presenter’s comment that no cost was identified during the committee consideration.

Votes at the Feb. 13 meeting were unanimous for the amended measure.

For the record, the committee discussion and the recorded motion and vote occurred during the committee’s voting list session.","The committee voted unanimously to pass an amended Senate Bill 94, which would require Medicaid to cover validated home blood-pressure monitors and reimburse provider time for people who are pregnant, postpartum, or have certain chronic conditions; the amendment removes an education campaign and reporting requirement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Finance Committee advances several bills unanimously, holds or withdraws a handful

Committee approves bill to make audio-only telehealth permanent, adds periodic technology study

Committee makes young-adult insurance subsidy permanent but bars implementation without funds

Senate Finance Committee unanimously advances bill to require Medicaid coverage for home blood-pressure monitoring for specified conditions