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SB 986

An Act amending the act of March 4, 1971 (P.L.6, No.2), known as the Tax Reform Code of 1971, in Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE) Tax Credits, providing for Pennsylvania space economy.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dave Argall and 8 co-sponsors

Requires MDH to study cancer patient navigation, map availability and barriers, and propose policy/budget actions with a Dec 1, 2025 report; withdrawn, no enacted change.

Referred to Finance
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Bill Summary · SB 986

SB 986 — Maryland Department of Health — Patient Navigation Services — Study

Status: Withdrawn by Sponsor (filed Jan 29, 2025; withdrawn Mar 3, 2025)
Sponsor: Sen. A. Washington

Purpose

Require the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to conduct a time‑limited study of “patient navigation” services for people with cancer, with the goal of identifying gaps and barriers and recommending policy, legislative, and budgetary actions to improve timely access to medical and psychosocial care from pre‑diagnosis through all phases of the cancer experience.

Key provisions

  • Defines “patient navigation” as individualized assistance offered to a patient with cancer and the patient’s family and caregivers at the health care facility where the patient receives care.
  • Directs MDH, in consultation with stakeholders (including those with policy, clinical, or personal expertise), to:
    • Assess the availability of patient navigation services across the State.
    • Analyze barriers to accessing those services.
    • Recommend policy, legislative, and budgetary initiatives to improve patient navigation services in Maryland.
  • Requires MDH to report findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by December 1, 2025 (per State reporting rules).
  • Sets the bill’s effective date as July 1, 2025 (if enacted).

Who would be affected

  • Primary duty-bearer: Maryland Department of Health (responsible for executing the study and producing the report).
  • Stakeholders to be consulted: clinical providers, patient navigators, advocacy organizations, patients/caregivers, payers, and other policy experts.
  • Indirectly affected: cancer patients and their families/caregivers (potential future benefits if recommendations are implemented), health care facilities, and state budget planners (if recommendations require funding).

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Introduced late January 2025; required report completion date was December 1, 2025.
  • The bill was withdrawn by the sponsor (administrative action noted March 3, 2025), so the statutory study requirement did not advance into law.
  • If reenacted or refiled, enactment would have taken effect July 1 following passage.

Potential impact

  • As written the measure funded/mandated only a study and report (rather than immediate program changes), so direct fiscal impact would have been limited to study costs.
  • The principal value would be in producing an evidence basis for future legislative, regulatory, or budgetary changes to expand or standardize patient navigation services for people with cancer across Maryland.
  • Because the bill was withdrawn, any improvements would require a future bill or administrative action to be implemented.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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