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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 606
Chapter 606
(House Bill 1365)
AN ACT concerning
Health Occupations and, Public Health, and Insurance – Menopause – Provider
Training and Coverage Requirements, Policy Initiatives, and Access to Care
FOR the purpose of altering the membership of the State Advisory Council on Health and
Wellness; requiring health occupations boards that require licensees or certificate
holders to complete certain continuing education to grant a certain number of hours
for every hour of continuing education for menopause and menopause–associated
symptoms; authorizing certain health occupations boards to establish a maximum
number of certain continuing education credits granted; requiring the Department
to identify a certain training program in consultation with certain professional
associations; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health
maintenance organizations to provide coverage for the evaluation and management
of menopause and menopause–associated conditions; requiring the Maryland
Commission for Women and the Maryland Department of Health to take certain
actions related to perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal conditions; and
generally relating to provider training and, health insurance coverage, policy
initiatives, and access to care related to menopause.
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Health – General
Section 13–201
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Health – General
Section 13–203
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Health Occupations
Section 1–231
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
BY adding to
Article – Insurance
Section 15–864
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2017 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement)
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Ch. 606 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Health – General
13–201.
In this subtitle, “Advisory Council” means the State Advisory Council on Health and
Wellness.
13–203.
(a) The Advisory Council consists of [34] voting members appointed by the
Secretary.
(b) The following members shall serve without term limits:
(1) The Secretary [of Health], or the Secretary’s designee;
(2) The State Superintendent of Schools, or the State Superintendent’s
designee;
(3) The Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee;
(4) The Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee;
(5) A representative of the Maryland Office of Minority Health and Health
Disparities; [and]
(6) A representative of the Maryland Association of County Health
Officers; AND
(7) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND COMMISSION
FOR WOMEN, OR THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S DESIGNEE.
(c) The following members are subject to term limits:
(1) One representative of the American Heart Association Mid–Atlantic,
Inc., nominated by the Executive Director of the Association;
(2) One representative of the Arthritis Foundation, Mid–Atlantic Region,
Maryland, nominated by the Executive Director of the Foundation;
(3) One representative of the American Diabetes Association, Maryland
Chapter, nominated by the Executive Director of the Association;
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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 606
(4) One representative of Johns Hopkins Medicine, nominated by the Chief
Executive Officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine;
(5) One representative of MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society,
nominated by the Executive Director of MedChi;
(6) One representative of the University of Maryland Medical Center and
University of Maryland School of Medicine, nominated by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Medical Center and the Dean of the School of Medicine;
(7) One representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American Academy
of Pediatrics, nominated by the Executive Director of the Chapter;
(8) One representative of the Maryland Nurses Association, nominated by
the Executive Director of the Association;
(9) One representative of the Maryland Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, nominated by the President of the Academy;
(10) One representative of the Maryland Chapter of the American College of
Emergency Physicians, nominated by the President of the Chapter; [and]
(11) ONE REPRESENTATIVE WITH EXPERTISE IN PERIMENOPAUSAL,
MENOPAUSAL, AND POSTMENOPAUSAL EVALUATION AND TREATMENT; AND
(12) [Eighteen] SEVENTEEN members of the public, who may include:
(i) Individuals with a chronic disease or family members of an
individual with a chronic disease;
(ii) Licensed health care providers;
(iii) Individuals with a physical fitness background;
(iv) Employers or representatives of the business sector;
(v) Representatives of health insurers;
(vi) Representatives of community–based organizations; and
(vii) Individuals with expressed interest in health and wellness.
(d) (1) This subsection applies to members who are subject to term limits.
(2) The term of a member is 4 years.
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Ch. 606 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(3) The terms of members are staggered as required by the terms provided
for members of the Advisory Council on October 1, 2017.
(4) A member may serve two consecutive full terms.
(5) At the end of a term, a member continues to serve until a successor is
appointed and qualifies.
(6) A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves only for the
rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(7) A member who serves two consecutive full 4–year terms may not be
reappointed for 4 years after the completion of those terms.
(e) If a vacancy occurs, the Secretary promptly shall appoint a successor.
Article – Health Occupations
1–231.
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES ONLY TO A LICENSEE OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER
WHO EVALUATES AND MANAGES MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED
SYMPTOMS WHILE ACTING WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE.
(B) EACH HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD THAT REQUIRES A LICENSEE OR
CERTIFICATE HOLDER TO COMPLETE CONTINUING EDUCATION AS A CONDITION OF
THE RENEWAL OF THE LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE SHALL GRANT AT LEAST 2 HOURS
OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS FOR EVERY 1 HOUR OF CONTINUING
EDUCATION ON MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS
COMPLETED BY THE LICENSEE OR CERTIFICATE HOLDER.
(C) (1) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL IDENTIFY AT LEAST ONE TRAINING
PROGRAM FOR LICENSEES AND CERTIFICATE HOLDERS REGARDING THE
EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED
SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE USED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS
SECTION.
(2) IN IDENTIFYING A TRAINING PROGRAM UNDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF
THIS SUBSECTION, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL CONSULT WITH PROFESSIONAL
ASSOCIATIONS WITH EXPERTISE IN MENOPAUSE AND MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED
SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING THE MENOPAUSE SOCIETY.
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WES MOORE, Governor Ch. 606
(D) A HEALTH OCCUPATIONS BOARD SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION MAY ADOPT
REGULATIONS TO CARRY OUT THIS SECTION, INCLUDING REGULATIONS
ESTABLISHING THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS THAT
MAY BE GRANTED UNDER THIS SECTION.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read
as follows:
Article – Insurance
15–864.
(A) THIS SECTION APPLIES TO:
(1) INSURERS AND NONPROFIT HEALTH SERVICE PLANS THAT
PROVIDE HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS
ON AN EXPENSE–INCURRED BASIS UNDER HEALTH INSURANCE POLICIES OR
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE; AND
(2) HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE
HOSPITAL, MEDICAL, OR SURGICAL BENEFITS TO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS UNDER
CONTRACTS THAT ARE ISSUED OR DELIVERED IN THE STATE.
(B) AN ENTITY SUBJECT TO THIS SECTION SHALL PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR
THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF MENOPAUSE AND
MENOPAUSE–ASSOCIATED SYMPTOMS AS DETERMINED BY THE TREATING HEALTH
CARE PROVIDER.
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Commission for
Women shall:
(1) evaluate opportunities for State policy initiatives that improve the
health and economic security of individuals in the State with perimenopausal, menopausal,
and postmenopausal conditions; and
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, report its findings and recommendations
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of
Health shall:
(1) in consultation with the State Community Health Worker Advisory
Committee, evaluate and develop an action plan to increase access to perimenopausal,
menopausal, and postmenopausal health care services through the outreach of community
health workers to consumers; and
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Ch. 606 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, submit its evaluation and recommended
action plan to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government
Article.
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Maryland Department of
Health shall:
(1) in consultation with health care provider professional associations and
institutions of higher education, including community colleges, evaluate methods for
increasing opportunities for clinical education, including postgraduate education, on
perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal evaluation and treatment; and
(2) on or before October 1, 2027, report its findings and recommendations
to the General Assembly, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article.
SECTION 3. 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall
apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the
State on or after January 1, 2027.
SECTION 4. 7. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall
take effect January 1, 2027.
SECTION 5. 8. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in
Section 4 1 of this Act, this Act shall take effect October 1, 2026.
SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in
Sections 7 and 8 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
Approved by the Governor, May 26, 2026.
–6–Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.