Bill
SB 965
MDH must collect and annually publish de-identified statewide cost data on birth, pregnancy, delivery, postpartum care, and abortion to inform policy and transparency.
Status: Enacted (Passed House & Senate; sent to Governor). Report/implementation timeline: first report due December 1, 2025; bill effective (as introduced) June 1, 2025 (legislative records show enactment activity with an effective date of September 1, 2025). Introduced: Jan. 28–29, 2025. Assigned to: Finance. Sponsors: Senators Carozza, Ready, West (Md.); cross-file HB 1357 / related HB 717.
Summary
This bill creates a new Part V in the Health – General Article requiring the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) to collect, compile, and annually report statewide cost data on birth/delivery, postpartum care, pregnancy care, and abortion. The goals are to improve understanding of financial impacts on individuals, providers, and the State; inform public policy on maternal and reproductive health; and increase transparency while protecting privacy.
Key provisions
- Data categories to be collected (annual, aggregated):
- Delivery/birth: standard delivery costs, costs of complications (including emergency interventions and extended stays), and neonatal care where applicable.
- Postpartum care: follow-up visits and costs related to postpartum mental health (including postpartum depression).
- Pregnancy care: routine OB/GYN visits, prenatal vitamins/supplements, diagnostic and monitoring services (ultrasounds, genetic testing).
- Abortion: procedural costs; costs of complications or follow-up care; prescription costs for abortion medications (including costs associated with abortion pill “reversals”); and costs of abortion care training programs.
- Medicaid tracking: MDH must track Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid) expenditures separately for chemical (medical) and surgical abortions, including associated prescription and pre-/post-operative care costs.
- Standardized collection: MDH must develop standardized forms/worksheets and a system to collect consistent data from licensed hospitals, health-care providers, and any other entities providing the listed services.
- Privacy and de‑identification: entities must anonymize and de-identify patient data as needed. MDH is not required to collect/report data that would violate federal or state privacy laws (including HIPAA).
- Annual reporting: by December 1 each year (first due Dec. 1, 2025), MDH must submit and post a comprehensive report to the General Assembly and on its website containing:
- Aggregated cost data for the prior fiscal year;
- Comparative data by region within the State;
- Trend analysis over time;
- Recommendations (if any) to improve cost efficiency.
- Report must not include personally identifiable information and must comply with applicable privacy laws.
Fiscal and administrative impact
- MDH requires additional staff/resources to develop collection systems and prepare the annual reports.
- Fiscal Note (Department of Legislative Services) estimates MDH general fund costs:
- FY 2026: approx. $155,300 (to hire two health policy analysts — one permanent, one six‑month contractual — plus startup/operating costs).
- FY 2027 onward: ongoing costs for one permanent position (~$96,900 in FY 2027, rising modestly in subsequent years). The contractual position is assumed to end after the first report unless further contracted support is needed.
- No direct revenue impact. Local governments: none. Small business impact: minimal (requires reporting compliance by small provider entities).
Who is affected
- Maryland Department of Health (implementation, staffing);
- Licensed hospitals, health-care providers, and other entities that provide delivery, postpartum, pregnancy, or abortion services (data submission duties);
- Maryland Medicaid program (expenditure-tracking obligations);
- Policymakers and the public (will gain aggregated cost and trend data).
Notes
- The statute adds Sections 20‑217 through 20‑220 (Part V) to the Health – General Article.
- The bill emphasizes transparency and policy use while explicitly safeguarding patient privacy and compliance with federal/state law.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
Sign in to ask a question.
