Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland HB1117: Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs - Recommendations for Elopement Response Devices
Status: In committee, April 13, 2026
Authorizing the Virginia I. Jones Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Council and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism-Related Needs to recommend the use of elopement response as safety tools for certain individuals who are at risk of elopement; defining "elopement" as behavior in which an individual with a cognitive, developmental, or neurological condition leaves or attempts to leave a safe and supervised area without the ability to avoid risk or to return safely without assistance; etc.
What the bill says
A bill ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Elopement Response Devices - Insurance and Maryland Medical Assistance Program Coverage and Provision Under State Programs FOR the purpose of requiring that certain State programs consider approved elopement response devices as a medical device, durable medical equipment, or assistive technology for purposes of the State programs; requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, subject to certain limitations, to provide coverage for approved elopement response devices and supports…
From the introduced text, February 12, 2026:
A BILL ENTITLED AN ACT concerning Elopement Response Devices - Insurance and Maryland Medical Assistance Program Coverage and Provision Under State Programs FOR the purpose of requiring that certain State programs consider approved elopement response devices as a medical device, durable medical equipment, or assistive technology for purposes of the State programs; requiring the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, subject to certain limitations, to provide coverage for approved elopement response devices and supports; establishing requirements and prohibitions regarding the Program coverage for approved elopement response devices; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for approved elopement response devices and associated supports to certain individuals under certain circumstances; and generally relating to elopement response devices. BY adding to Article - Health - General Section 13-32B-01 and 13-32B-02 to be under the new subtitle "Subtitle 32B. Elopement Response Devices"; and 15-103(a)(2)(xxix) and 15-160 Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, Article - Health - General Section 15-103(a)(1) Annotated Code of Maryland (2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, Article - Health - General Section 15-103(a)(2)(xxvii) and (xxviii) Annotated Code of Maryland EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW. [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from exist in g l aw . *hb1117* HOUSE …