Health and Government Operations Committee unanimously concurs on telehealth license and multiple health bills

The Health and Government Operations Committee unanimously concurred on a slate of House bills during a short session, including a concurrence that would allow a temporary telehealth license for out‑of‑state professional counselors to provide telehealth services to students enrolled at Maryland institutions of higher education, the committee chair said.

The chair described the telehealth measure as a way to “allow[] them to do it for at least 6 months” and later said, “This is important because some of our students need to continue that counseling.” The committee recorded unanimous concurrence on the bills presented and moved to return to the floor later in the afternoon.

Why it matters: The telehealth concurrence would permit the State Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists to issue temporary licenses to counselors licensed in another state so they may provide telehealth counseling to an out‑of‑state student attending a Maryland institution, provided the counselor and student had an existing therapeutic relationship of at least six months. Committee members said the change addresses continuity of care for students who are enrolled at Maryland schools but located in other states.

Votes at a glance - House Bill 14 74: Concurrence to establish a temporary telehealth license issued by the Board of Professional Counselors and Therapists allowing an out‑of‑state licensee to provide telehealth to an out‑of‑state student enrolled in a Maryland institution if a prior therapeutic relationship of six months existed; the board may adopt additional qualifications and regulations. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 8 13: Amendment adds representatives and consultation requirements for a Maryland Insurance Administration and Maryland Department of Health work group to study pharmacy benefit managers; requires consultation with the Prescription Drug Affordability Board and adds items for the work group to consider. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 6 99: Amendment to conform House Bill 6 99 with Senate Bill 4 91 by altering the definition of “honorable discharge” so that a discharge less than honorable may be considered eligible for state benefits when the Department of Veterans and Military Families determines eligibility using federal criteria. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 3 76: Amendment to conform House Bill 3 76 to Senate Bill 2 94 by altering membership and duties of the Maryland Cybersecurity Council. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 3 84: Amendment setting an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025, and requiring certification related to program administration staff levels; the transcript references department certification requirements tied to the effective date. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 15 10: Amendment requiring that if notice of record destruction is sent by email and no response is received, the health care provider must send notice by mail at least 10 days before the date the record is to be destroyed. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous). - House Bill 11 04: Amendments require the Department of Health to post a draft of its annual report for 30 days of public comment, provide a summary of how public comments informed the department’s and the HSCRC’s work, and meet monthly with specified members of the General Assembly through December 2026; the transcript notes the department and the Health Services Cost Review Commission were consulted and are agreeable to the amendments. Outcome: concurrence approved (unanimous).

Discussion and committee directions Committee members asked no substantive questions on the individual concurrences during the recorded portion and each concurrence was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition noted. The chair asked the vice chair to contact committee staff about the status of Senate Bill 7 73, which the chair said the committee still expects to move forward on; no action on that Senate bill was recorded in this transcript.

During closing remarks the chair reviewed other items the committee had advanced this session, including permanent telehealth policy in Maryland, a subsidy program for young adults using reinsurance funds, work on pediatric overstays, work related to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board and adverse decision processes. The chair told members, “You should feel really proud of the work that you have done. You’ve done a lot of good work,” and recognized committee staff by name.

Administrative items and member questions Delegate Chisholm asked about the committee’s end‑of‑session letter and who receives it; the chair replied that the committee sends the letter to members and members are free to forward it to colleagues on other committees. Delegate Ross was welcomed to the committee during the closing remarks.

What did not change here The committee’s recorded actions in this session were concurrences with House bills and administrative acknowledgments. Where the transcript did not provide details (for example, individual roll‑call vote counts or a formal motion text beyond a concurrence), those specifics were not stated in this article because they were not recorded in the provided transcript.

Next steps The committee planned to return to the floor at 3:45 p.m., according to remarks in the recording. Several items referenced by the chair remain pending on the legislative floor or in related agencies, including a referenced Senate bill (Senate Bill 7 73) for which staff follow‑up was requested.