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    Maryland Cancer Legislation and Regulation

    Please note that this list is not inclusive of all passed cancer-related legislation in Maryland.

    2020

    HB0852   SB0661      

    Health Insurance – Prostate Cancer Screening Services – Prohibiting Cost–Sharing

    2019

    HB0604   SB0646

    Workers' Compensation - Medical Presumptions for Diseases and Cancer - Eligibility (Firefighter Jesse McCullough's Cancer Protection Law) 

    SB0727

    Health - Professional and Volunteer Firefighter Innovative Cancer Screening Technologies Program 

    HB1169

    Business Regulation - Tobacco Products and Electronic Smoking Devices Revisions

    HB1301

    Taxation of Online Sales - Marketplace Facilitators and Sellers of Other Tobacco Products

    HB0124   SB0299

    Tanning Devices used by Minors 

    SB0868   HB0697

    Health Insurance - Consumer Protections and Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission

    2018

    HB0847

    Health Insurance - Coverage for Lymphedema Diagnosis, Evaluation and Treatment

    HB0908   SB0271

    Health Insurance Coverage of Fertility Preservation Procedures for Iatrogenic Infertility

    2017

    HB0190

    Mammography Centers - Dense Breast Tissue-Notification of Breast Cancer Screening Options 

    HB0740    HB0919

    President Jimmy Carter Cancer Treatment Access Act

    HB0185

    Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - Distribution of Tobacco Products to Minors-Prohibitive Enforcement 

    HB0675   SB0661

    Health Insurance-Coverage for Digital Tomosynthesis 

    SB0571

    Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Act

    2016

    SB0001   HB0011      

    Health Insurance - In Vitro Fertilization-Use of Spouse Sperm-Exception

    2015

    SB0241

    Health Insurance - Coverage for Ostomy Equipment and Supplies Required

    SB0416   HB0838

    Health Insurance - Coverage for Infertility Services 

    HB1169

    Business Regulation - Tobacco Products and Electronic Smoking Devices Revisions

    HB1301

    Taxation of Online Sales - Marketplace Facilitators and Sellers of Other Tobacco Products

    HB0124   SB0299

    Tanning Devices used by Minors

    SB0868   HB0697

    Health Insurance - Consumer Protections and Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission

    2014

    HB 625/SB 641​
    Kathleen A. Mathias Oral Chemotherapy Improvement Act of 2014
    Altering the scope of specified provisions of law relating to coverage of cancer chemotherapy to include specified policies or contracts issued or delivered by specified entities that provide essential health benefits required under specified provisions of federal law; making the Act an emergency measure; etc.

    2013

    HB 1343/SB 380

    Workgroup on Cancer Clusters and Environmental Causes of Cancer

    Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, to convene a workgroup to examine issues relating to the investigation of potential cancer clusters in the State and potential environmental causes of cancer; specifying issues to be examined; requiring the workgroup to include specified legislators and representatives; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to report findings and recommendations of the workgroup on or before June 30, 2014; etc.

    HB 581

    Hospitals - Establishment of Palliative Care Pilot Programs

    Providing for the establishment of a specified number of palliative care pilot programs in specified hospitals in the State; requiring the Maryland Health Care Commission to select the pilot programs in a specified manner; requiring specified palliative care programs to include specified policies and procedures; requiring specified counseling about palliative care to include information regarding specified rights of patients; etc.

    Mammograms - Dense Breast Tissue – Notification

    Requiring, subject to a specified provision of law, specified centers that produce, develop, or interpret mammograms to provide a specified notice to specified patients under specified circumstances; authorizing the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, under specified circumstances, to adopt regulations to change the content of a specified notice; etc.

    2012

    HB 243/SB 179

    Kathleen A. Mathias Chemotherapy Parity Act of 2012

    Prohibiting insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations that provide coverage for cancer chemotherapy under specified health insurance policies or contracts from imposing limits or cost sharing on coverage for orally administered cancer chemotherapy that are less favorable to an insured or enrollee than the limits or cost sharing on coverage for cancer chemotherapy that is administered intravenously or by injection; etc.

    Public Health - Electronic Cigarettes - Distribution to Minors Prohibited

    Prohibiting a person from selling, distributing, or offering for sale to a minor electronic devices that can be used to deliver nicotine to the individual inhaling from the device, including electronic cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, or pipes; specifying an exception to the prohibition; providing that a violation of the Act is a misdemeanor subject to a specified fine; establishing a defense for a violation of the Act; etc.

    2012 Special Session I

    SB 1302/HB 1802

    State and Local Revenue and Financing Act of 2012

    Altering the tax rate for specified tobacco products; altering income tax rates and deductions; etc.

    2011

    SB 883/HB 1229

    Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

    Establishing the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; establishing the mission of the Program; requiring the Program to carry out its mission by monitoring the prescribing and dispensing of specified substances by specified prescribers and dispensers; establishing the Advisory Board on Prescription Drug Monitoring to assist in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Program; etc.

    2009

    HB 405

    Heal​th Insurance – Mandated Benefits – Breast Cancer Screening

    This bill alters the current health insurance mandate regarding coverage of mammograms by requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for breast cancer screening in accordance with the latest screening guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society.

    SB 173/HB 41

    Health Insurance – Mandated Benefits – Hospitalization and Home Visits Following a Mastectomy

    This bill requires insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs (carriers) to provide coverage for a 48-hour inpatient hospital stay following a mastectomy.

    2008

    HB 1358 

    Artificial Tanning Devices - Protection of Minors

    ​Prohibiting owners, employees, and operators of tanning facilities from allowing a minor to use a tanning device unless the minor has a prescription from a physician or is accompanied by a parent or guardian; requiring owners, employees, and operators of tanning facilities to require documentation before allowing individuals access to tanning facilities

    2007

    HB  359/SB 91

    Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007

    Prohibiting a person from smoking tobacco products in indoor areas open to the public and indoor places of employment except under specified circumstances, beginning February 1, 2008; creating the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation to adopt regulations and to report to the General Assembly regarding enforcement efforts; establishing penalties and fines for the violation of the Act; etc.

    HB 785

    Cigarette Fire Safety Performance Standard and Firefighter Protection Act

    Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of cigarettes in the State unless the cigarettes have been tested in a specified manner and meet a performance standard and the manufacturer has filed a specified certification with the Comptroller

    HB 1049/SB 774

    Task Force on the HPV Vaccine

    Establishing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine subcommittee in the Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan; providing for the membership and duties of the HPV vaccine subcommittee; requiring the HPV vaccine subcommittee to submit an annual report to the Cervical Cancer Committee by September 1; etc.

    SB 283

    Charles County Prostate Cancer Pilot Program

    Establishing the Charles County Prostate Cancer Pilot Program; providing for the purpose of the Program; providing for eligibility for the Program; requiring the Program to provide specified services and activities; requiring the Program to be funded as provided in the State budget; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to distribute grants to local health departments to administer the Program; etc.

    SB 361

    Cigarette Fire Safety Performance Standard and Firefighter Protection Act

    Prohibiting the manufacture, sale, or offer for sale of cigarettes in the State unless the cigarettes have been tested in a specified manner and meet a performance standard and the manufacturer has filed a specified certification with the Comptroller; establishing a performance standard for cigarettes; requiring that testing of cigarettes be conducted in a specified manner; requiring laboratories that conduct testing to implement a specified quality control and quality assurance program; etc.

    2006

    SB 491

    Coverage for Home Visits After Mastectomy or Surgical Removal of a Testicle - Extension of Sunset

    ​ Extending until 9/20/2011, a termination date for mandated insurance coverage for home visits following a mastectomy or surgical removal of a testicle. 

    2005

    HB 303

    Health Insurance - Mandated Benefits - Smoking Cessation Treatment

    Requiring specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for specified drugs and nicotine replacement therapy to assist an insured or enrollee to cease the use of tobacco products; prohibiting the insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations from imposing specified copayments or coinsurance requirements for specified drugs and nicotine replacement therapy; etc.

    SB 546​

    Cigarettes - Direct Sales and Shipping

    Prohibiting a person engaged in the business of selling or distributing cigarettes from selling, shipping, or causing to be shipped cigarettes, ordered or purchased by mail or through a computer network, telephonic network, or other electronic network by a consumer or other unlicensed recipient, directly to a consumer or other unlicensed recipient in this State; allowing a licensed retailer or an employee of a licensed retailer to deliver no more than two cartons of cigarettes directly to a consumer; etc.

    SB 779

    Annual Human Papillomavirus Screening Test – Coverage

    Requiring specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for a human papillomavirus screening test at the testing intervals outlined in specified recommendations developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; authorizing specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to impose specified cost-sharing requirements under specified circumstances; defining specified terms; etc.

    2004

    HB 1000

    Maryland Cancer Fund - Income Tax Checkoff

    Establishing the Maryland Cancer Fund within the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to be used to provide grants for cancer research, prevention, and treatment; requiring that Fund expenditures be made only through an appropriation in the annual State budget or through an approved budget amendment; requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to adopt regulations to implement a Maryland cancer grant program; requiring a specified report; establishing an income tax checkoff for voluntary contributions to the Fund; etc.

    SB 499

    State Council on Cancer Control - Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan​

    Establishing a Cervical Cancer Committee of the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to staff the Committee; providing for the duties of the Committee; and requiring the Committee to present findings and recommendations to the Governor and the General Assembly annually for 5 years beginning October 1, 2004.

    2003

    HB 32

    Candy-Like Products Containing Nicotine - Minors

    Adding candy-like products that contain tobacco to the definition of tobacco products prohibited to be sold to or possessed by a minor.

    SB 39

    Coverage for Home Visits After Mastectomy or Surgical Removal of a Testicle – Repeal of Sunset

    Extending the September 30, 2003 termination date for insurance coverage for specified home visits following a mastectomy or surgical removal of a testicle.

    2002

    HJ 1

    Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

    Designating September as "Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month".

    HB 423

    Health Care - Programs and Facilities - Pain Management

    Adding the right to have pain assessed, managed, and treated to the patient's bill of rights for hospitals and related institutions; requiring specified other health care facilities to add pain management to any patient's bill of rights or similar document distributed; establishing a State Advisory Council on Pain Management; specifying the membership, terms, and purpose of the Council; providing for the termination of a portion of the Act; etc

    2001

    HB 190/SB 100
    Health Insurance - Colorectal Cancer Screening – Coverage

    Requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for colorectal cancer screening in accordance with guidelines issued by the American Cancer Society; authorizing insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to impose cost-sharing requirements; and providing for the application of the Act.

    HB 1267

    Breast Cancer Program - Coverage of Reconstructive Services

    Requiring that treatment provided to participants in the Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Program who have undergone a mastectomy includes reconstruction services.

    2000

    SB386​
    Health Benefit Plans - Coverage for Hair Prostheses for Hair Loss Resulting from Chemotherapy or Radiation Treatment for Cancer

    This bill requires health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs (carriers) to cover the cost of hair prostheses for individuals whose hair loss results from chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancer.  The cost of prosthesis may not exceed $350.

    SB 896

    Cigarette Restitution Fund - Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program - Cancer Prevention, Education, Screening , and Treatment Program

    Establishing a Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation Program and a Cancer Prevention, Education, Screening, and Treatment Program in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; providing that the programs shall be funded as provided in the State budget with money from the Cigarette Restitution Fund; authorizing the Legislative Auditor to audit the appropriations and expenditures made for purposes of the programs; etc.

    HB 1184 ​

    Oral Health Programs - Reducing Oral Cancer Mortality

    Requiring the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish the Oral Health Program to prevent and detect oral cancer in the State with a specified focus and intent; targeting the program to the needs of high-risk underserved populations; requiring the Secretary to establish the Prevent Oral Cancer Pilot Program to screen, refer, and treat high-risk underserved adults; etc. 

    1999

    SB181
    Health Insurance - Coverage for Prosthesis

    Requiring certain health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for a prosthesis that has been prescribed by a physician for an enrollee or insured who has undergone a mastectomy and has not had breast reconstruction

    HB 182/SB135

    Patients' Bill of Rights Act of 1999

    Provision of this bill requires carriers who do not provide coverage for a set minimum length of hospitalization for mastectomy and testicle removal procedures to provide home visits within 24 hours after discharge.  A second visit must be provided, if requested by the doctor.  The bill also requires insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and HMOs (carriers) to establish and permit, in certain circumstances, a patient's direct access to specialists, including standing referrals to the specialists, and access to specialists outside the carriers provider panel.

    HB 751

    Cigarette Restitution Fund

    Establishing a Cigarette Restitution Fund; providing for the distribution of tobacco settlement revenues to the Fund; providing for expenditures from the Fund by budget appropriation; requiring the Fund to be expended for certain purposes; requiring the Governor to develop certain mission statements for each program, project, or activity receiving appropriated funds and to report annually to the General Assembly on the total funds expended, by program, in the prior fiscal year and the outcomes or public benefits of each project; etc.

    1998

    HB45/SB137
    Health Insurance - Medical Clinical Trial - Coverage

    Requiring health insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for specified patient cost incurred as a result of treatment or studies conducted in accordance with a clinical trial if specified conditions are satisfied, and for the cost of FDA-approved and devices under specified circumstances; requiring an entity seeking coverage under the Act to post electronically and keep up-to-date a list of specified clinical trials; etc.

    HB 766

    Breast Cancer Program

    Requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to establish a Breast Cancer Program to provide screening mammograms and clinical breast examinations to specified low-income women aged 40 to 49 years on at least a biennial basis and for women aged 50 years and older on an annual basis; requiring the Program to provide diagnosis and treatment for individuals who are identified as being in need; requiring specified funding; etc.

    1997

    HB1040/SB 428 
    Health Insurance - Mandated Coverage - Prostate Cancer

    Requiring specified insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage to men of a specified age for medically recognized diagnostic tests used to detect prostate cancer, including a digital rectal examination and a prostate-specific antigen test.

    1996

    HB119/SB 181 
    Health Insurance - Reconstructive Breast Surgery – Coverage

    This enrolled bill requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for reconstructive breast surgery resulting from a mastectomy.  It specifies that coverage is to include surgery on a non-diseased breast to establish symmetry with the diseased breast.

    SB 59

    Hospitals - Requirements - Mammography Educational Materials

    Requiring hospitals to offer mammography educational materials to female inpatients under specified circumstances; requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in collaboration with other groups, to select and approve, or develop and print, and update as necessary, mammography educational materials.

    NOTE:  Electronic viewing of legislation prior to 1996 is not currently available.

    1993

    SB 445
    Amended the 1991 law and prohibits that a deductible from being charged for routine mammography screening.

    1992

    Diagnosis and Treatment

    For uninsured or underinsured women, who meet income guidelines and are Maryland residents, the State will pay for costs related to the diagnosis and treatment of breast and cervical cancer by specified providers.  The program will pay for the purchase of breast prosthesis.     

    1991​​​

    HB 407

    Breast Cancer - Health Insurance and Mandated Coverage

    This enrolled bill requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to provide a baseline mammogram for women 35-39, a mammogram every two years for women 40-49, and an annual mammogram for women 50 years of age and older.  The following link possibly updates HB 407.

    State law passed requiring the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to provide all physicians who perform breast implantation in Maryland with a booklet that describes the advantages, disadvantages and risks associated with breast implantation.  The treating physician is required, by law to give the booklet to patients at least five days before the breast implant operation.

    Required Breast Imp​lant Materials

    State law passed requiring treating physicians to give all women diagnosed with breast cancer a booklet, published by DHMH, discussing treatment alternatives, their advantages, disadvantages and risks

    Required Breast Cancer Treatment M​aterials​

    ​​