Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB169: Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures
Status: Signed into law, May 26, 2026
Requiring a hospital to conduct screening on a patient presenting at an emergency department of the hospital to determine whether the patient has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the treatment and transfer of a patient who has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; requiring a hospital to allow the termination of a pregnancy in certain circumstances; etc.
What the bill says
An act concerning Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures FOR the purpose of requiring a hospital to conduct screening on a patient presenting at an emergency department of the hospital to determine whether the patient has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the treatment and transfer of a patient who has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; requiring a hospital to allow the termination of a pregnancy in certain circumstances…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Hospitals - Emergency Pregnancy-Related Medical Conditions - Procedures FOR the purpose of requiring a hospital to conduct screening on a patient presenting at an emergency department of the hospital to determine whether the patient has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; establishing requirements and prohibitions related to the treatment and transfer of a patient who has an emergency pregnancy-related medical condition; requiring a hospital to allow the termination of a pregnancy in certain circumstances; prohibiting a hospital from taking adverse action against a provider for not transferring a patient who is not stabilized or against a hospital employee if the employee reports a violation of this Act; and generally relating to emergency pregnancy-related medical conditions and hospitals. BY adding to Article - Health - General Section 19-342.1 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Health - General Section 20-214(b) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: Article - Health - General 19-342.1. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) "EMERGENCY PREGNANCY-RELATED MEDICAL CONDITION" MEANS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT PRESENTS IN A PREGNANT PATIENT THROUGH ACUTE SYMPTOMS OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY …