Maryland legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Maryland SB898: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Behavior Technicians - Reimbursement
Status: Signed into law, May 31, 2026
Requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide reimbursement for applied behavior analysis services provided by behavior technicians to Program recipients with autism spectrum disorder under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; prohibiting, subject to a certain exception, the Department from requiring as a condition of reimbursement that an individual receive a certain certification to provide applied behavior analysis services as a behavior technician to Program recipients; and applying the Act prospectively.
What the bill says
An act concerning Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Registered Behavior Technicians - Reimbursement FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide reimbursement for applied behavior analysis services provided by registered behavior technicians under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; prohibiting, subject to a certain exception, the Department from requiring as a condition of reimbursement that an individual receive a certain certification to provide applied behavior analysis services as a registered behavior technician to Program recipients…
From the enrolled text, June 3, 2026:
AN ACT concerning Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Registered Behavior Technicians - Reimbursement FOR the purpose of requiring the Maryland Department of Health to provide reimbursement for applied behavior analysis services provided by registered behavior technicians under the Maryland Medical Assistance Program; prohibiting, subject to a certain exception, the Department from requiring as a condition of reimbursement that an individual receive a certain certification to provide applied behavior analysis services as a registered behavior technician to Program recipients; and generally relating to the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and applied behavior analysis services. BY adding to Article - Health - General Section 15-114.2 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 15-114.2. (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS INDICATED. (2) (I) "APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS" MEANS THE DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS USING BEHAVIORAL STIMULI AND CONSEQUENCES TO PRODUCE SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN HUMAN BEHAVIOR. (II) "APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS" INCLUDES THE DIRECT OBSERVATIONS, MEASUREMENT, AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIOR. (3) "AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER" MEANS A GROUP OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS: Ch. 867 2026 LAWS OF MARYLAND (I) CHARACTERIZED BY PERSISTENT DEFICITS IN SOCIAL COMMUNICATION AND …