Text of MD SB 129 (2025)
Public Health - Maryland Commission on Health Equity - Advisory Committee and Hospital Reporting
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As introduced
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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0129*
SENATE BILL 129
J1, J3
5lr1473
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Ellis
Requested: October 29, 2024
Introduced and read first time: January 8, 2025
Assigned to: Finance
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning
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Public Health – Maryland Commission on Health Equity – Advisory Committee
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and Hospital Reporting
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FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Commission on Health Equity, in coordination
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with the Maryland Department of Health, to establish a health equity measures
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advisory committee; requiring licensed hospitals in the State to submit a health
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equity report annually to the Department and the health equity advisory committee;
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and generally relating to the health equity and hospital reporting.
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BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
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Article – Health – General
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Section 13–4301
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Annotated Code of Maryland
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(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
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BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
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Article – Health – General
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Section 13–4302
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Annotated Code of Maryland
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(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
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BY adding to
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Article – Health – General
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Section 13–4308
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Annotated Code of Maryland
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(2023 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement)
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SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
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That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
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2
SENATE BILL 129
Article – Health – General
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13–4301.
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(a)
In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
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(b)
“Commission” means the Maryland Commission on Health Equity.
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(C)
“COMMITTEE” MEANS THE HEALTH EQUITY MEASURES ADVISORY
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COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED UNDER § 13–4308(A) OF THIS SUBTITLE.
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(D)
“GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION” MEANS AN URBAN, SUBURBAN, OR RURAL
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AREA OF THE STATE.
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(E)
“HEALTH DISPARITY” MEANS A DIFFERENCE IN A PARTICULAR TYPE OF
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HEALTH OUTCOME OR OPPORTUNITY, SUCH AS A DIFFERENCE IN RATES OF
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HYPERTENSION, HEART DISEASE, ASTHMA, DIABETES, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL
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HEALTH DISORDERS, AND MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY, THAT:
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(1)
IS
CLOSELY
LINKED
WITH
SOCIAL,
ECONOMIC,
OR
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ENVIRONMENTAL DISADVANTAGE; AND
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(2)
ADVERSELY AFFECTS GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
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SYSTEMATICALLY EXPERIENCED GREATER OBSTACLES TO HEALTH CARE BASED ON:
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(I)
RACE OR ETHNICITY;
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(II)
RELIGION;
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(III) SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS;
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(IV) GENDER, GENDER IDENTITY, OR SEXUAL ORIENTATION;
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(V)
AGE;
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(VI) MENTAL HEALTH STATUS;
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(VII) COGNITIVE, SENSORY, OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY;
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(VIII) GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION; OR
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(IX) ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC HISTORICALLY LINKED TO
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DISCRIMINATION OR EXCLUSION.
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SENATE BILL 129
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[(c)] (F)
“Health equity framework” means a public health framework through
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which policymakers and stakeholders in the public and private sectors use a collaborative
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approach to improve health outcomes and reduce health inequities in the State by
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incorporating health considerations into decision making across sectors and policy areas.
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(G)
“HEALTH EQUITY REPORT” MEANS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
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ANALYZING HEALTH STATUS AND ACCESS TO CARE DISPARITIES IN A PATIENT
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POPULATION, INFORMED BY NATIONAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND INTERNAL DATA AND
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ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOURCE.
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(H)
“HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGY” MEANS AN EQUITY STRATEGY CREATED
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TO REDUCE HEALTH DISPARITIES, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS IDENTIFIED AS HIGH
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PRIORITIES BY NATIONAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND INTERNAL DATA AND ANY OTHER
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RELEVANT SOURCE.
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[(d)] (I)
“Statewide health equity plan” means the equity plan required under a
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cooperative grant funding agreement with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid
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Innovation.
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(J)
“VULNERABLE POPULATIONS” INCLUDE:
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(1)
RACIAL OR ETHNIC MINORITIES;
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(2)
THE UNHOUSED;
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(3)
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; AND
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(4)
INDIVIDUALS THAT IDENTIFY AS LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL,
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TRANSGENDER, OR QUEER.
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13–4302.
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There is a Maryland Commission on Health Equity.
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13–4308.
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(A)
(1)
THE COMMISSION
SHALL,
IN
COORDINATION
WITH
THE
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DEPARTMENT, ESTABLISH A HEALTH EQUITY MEASURES ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO:
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(I)
DETERMINE THE 10 WIDEST DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE
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QUALITY, ACCESS, OR OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS;
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(II)
REVIEW EACH HEALTH EQUITY REPORT SUBMITTED BY A
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LICENSED HOSPITAL IN THE STATE; AND
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4
SENATE BILL 129
(III) MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO
THE
SECRETARY
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REGARDING THE HEALTH EQUITY REPORTS.
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(2)
THE COMMITTEE SHALL INCLUDE:
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(I)
A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPARTMENT; AND
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(II)
THE
FOLLOWING
MEMBERS,
APPOINTED
BY
THE
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SECRETARY WITH THE ADVICE OF THE COMMISSION:
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1.
ONE
ACADEMIC
HEALTH
CARE
QUALITY
AND
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MEASUREMENT EXPERT;
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2.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL
FROM
AN
ASSOCIATION
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REPRESENTING PUBLIC HOSPITALS OR HEALTH SYSTEMS;
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3.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL
FROM
AN
ASSOCIATION
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REPRESENTING PRIVATE HOSPITALS OR HEALTH SYSTEMS;
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4.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL
FROM
AN
ORGANIZATION
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REPRESENTING ORGANIZED LABOR;
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5.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL
FROM
AN
ORGANIZATION
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REPRESENTING CONSUMERS OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN THE STATE; AND
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6.
ONE
INDIVIDUAL
FROM
AN
ORGANIZATION
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REPRESENTING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS.
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(B)
(1)
SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION, ON OR
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BEFORE OCTOBER 1 EACH YEAR, BEGINNING IN 2025, EACH LICENSED HOSPITAL IN
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THE STATE SHALL SUBMIT A HEALTH EQUITY REPORT TO THE DEPARTMENT AND
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THE COMMITTEE.
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(2)
EACH HOSPITAL SYSTEM WITH MORE THAN ONE LICENSED
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HOSPITAL IN THE STATE SHALL SUBMIT A HEALTH EQUITY REPORT THAT IS:
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(I)
DISAGGREGATED AT THE LEVEL OF EACH INDIVIDUALLY
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LICENSED HOSPITAL IN THE STATE THAT IS PART OF THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM; AND
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(II)
AGGREGATED ACROSS ALL LICENSED HOSPITALS IN THE
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HOSPITAL SYSTEM.
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SENATE BILL 129
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(3)
EACH LICENSED HOSPITAL SHALL PUBLISH ITS HEALTH EQUITY
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REPORT ON THE HOSPITAL’S WEBSITE.
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(4)
THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PUBLISH EACH HOSPITAL’S HEALTH
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EQUITY REPORT ON THE DEPARTMENT’S WEBSITE.
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(C)
THE HEALTH EQUITY REPORT REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF
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THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE:
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(1)
AN ANALYSIS OF THE DISPARITIES IN HEALTH STATUS AND
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ACCESS TO CARE AT THE HOSPITAL IN THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING FISCAL YEAR
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DISAGGREGATED BY:
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(I)
AGE;
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(II)
SEX;
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(III) RACE;
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(IV) ETHNICITY;
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(V)
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS; AND
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(VI) GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION; AND
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(2)
A HEALTH EQUITY STRATEGY TO ACHIEVE DISPARITY REDUCTION
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THAT:
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(I)
INCLUDES
MEASURABLE
OBJECTIVES
WITH
SPECIFIC
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TIMELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION;
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(II)
ADDRESSES THE 10 WIDEST DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE
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QUALITY, ACCESS, OR OUTCOMES FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS AS DETERMINED
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BY THE COMMITTEE UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(I) OF THIS SECTION; AND
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(III) ADDRESSES
HOSPITAL
PERFORMANCE
ACROSS
THE
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FOLLOWING PRIORITY AREAS:
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1.
PERSON–CENTERED CARE;
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2.
PATIENT SAFETY;
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3.
SOCIAL DETERMINATES OF HEALTH FOR PATIENTS;
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SENATE BILL 129
4.
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT;
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5.
CARE COORDINATION; AND
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6.
ACCESS TO CARE.
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(D)
THE DEPARTMENT MAY ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS
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SECTION.
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SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July
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1, 2025.
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