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Bill

SB 485

Public Health - Women's Health Care Data - Report

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mary Beth Carozza and 3 co-sponsors

Maryland requires the Department of Health to collect and annually report data on women's reproductive, maternal, and gynecological health services and outcomes.

Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
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Bill Summary · SB 485

Legislative bill overview

SB 485 requires the Maryland Department of Health to collect and report detailed data on women's health care services, outcomes, and access across the state. The bill mandates annual reporting to the General Assembly on metrics related to reproductive health, maternal health, and gynecological care.

Why is this important

Women's health data collection directly impacts policy decisions about resource allocation, service gaps, and health equity. Comprehensive reporting enables lawmakers and health officials to identify disparities in care access and outcomes, particularly for underserved populations, and to develop evidence-based interventions.

Potential points of contention

  • Data privacy concerns: Collecting sensitive reproductive and gynecological health information raises privacy questions about how data is stored, who accesses it, and whether identifiable information could be compromised
  • Implementation costs: Establishing new data collection systems across health care providers and the Department of Health requires funding and infrastructure that may strain budgets
  • Political sensitivity: Women's health data collection has become politically polarized; some may view this as surveillance of reproductive choices while others see it as necessary public health tracking

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

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