Appropriations panel advances bills to curb pediatric hospital overstays and restrict unlicensed placements
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Summary
The Appropriations Committee unanimously advanced two Delegate Shetty bills to limit pediatric hospital overstays and prohibit out‑of‑home placements in unlicensed settings, adopting technical and clarifying amendments before passing both measures.
The Appropriations Committee voted unanimously to advance two bills sponsored by Delegate Shetty meant to reduce pediatric hospital overstays and to restrict out‑of‑home placements in unlicensed settings.
The bills respond to what Shetty described as "a crisis in the state" of pediatric hospital overstays. "What this bill does is it alters the provisions relating to children placed in out‑of‑home placements under a voluntary pre placement agreement with the local department of social services," Shetty said when presenting HB 11‑81. That bill also includes an amendment intended to "end the practice of referring families who enter into a voluntary placement agreement to the child support enforcement administration," which the sponsor said has deterred families from using those agreements.
Shetty said HB 15‑59 "prohibits the Department of Human Services from placing a child in an unlicensed setting" and expands the statutory definition of covered inpatient settings to include hospital inpatient units or emergency departments when a patient under age 22 remains more than 48 hours after being medically cleared for discharge or transfer. The bill also authorizes emergency procurement with in‑state or out‑of‑state providers under certain circumstances to address immediate placement needs, and sets an effective date for some provisions beginning Jan. 1, 2027.
Committee members offered two amendments to each bill (one technical and one substantive clarifying amendment) and the committee approved both by voice vote before moving the bills. During discussion one committee member praised the sponsors' long‑term work on the issue, saying, "I want Maryland to know that they have a committee that cares," and asked to be added as a cosponsor; the committee added the entire committee as cosponsors by voice vote.
Both HB 11‑81 and HB 15‑59 were passed in committee and sent forward to the next stage. The chair said that bills from the session would appear on the floor the following day. The committee adjourned after completing its votes.