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Bill

HB 962

Public Health - Pediatric Hospital Overstay Patients and Workgroup on Children in Unlicensed Settings and Pediatric Overstays

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Bagnall Tudball and 17 co-sponsors

Maryland establishes workgroup to study children stuck in hospitals lacking community placement options, requiring solutions to reduce costly pediatric overstays.

Approved by the Governor - Chapter 479
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Bill Summary · HB 962

Legislative bill overview

HB 962 addresses the issue of children remaining in pediatric hospitals beyond medical necessity—often called "boarders" or "overstay patients"—who lack appropriate community placement options. The bill establishes a workgroup to study children in unlicensed settings and pediatric hospital overstays, and requires the Department of Health to develop solutions for this systemic problem.

Why is this important

Pediatric hospital overstays create significant costs to the healthcare system while potentially delaying care for acutely ill children. Many of these extended stays involve children in foster care or with complex behavioral health needs who cannot be discharged due to insufficient community-based services, group homes, or residential treatment options—a gap that affects both child welfare and hospital operations.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs: Creating new community placements and services to reduce overstays requires substantial state funding, which may compete with other budget priorities
  • Oversight and accountability: The workgroup's recommendations may require expanding regulated care settings or licensing requirements, raising questions about timeline and enforcement
  • Cross-agency coordination: Solutions likely require Department of Health, Department of Human Services, and behavioral health agencies to work together effectively, which historically faces coordination challenges

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

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