Mid-Atlantic Health Law TOPICS

1. The Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board voted on May 19, 2026, to set an upper payment limit on state spending on Ozempic. The goal of this upper payment limit is to make Ozempic more affordable for Marylanders and to save the State and local governments an estimated $5.8 million per year on health plans. This decision follows a previous vote to place an upper payment limit on Jardiance, another Type 2 diabetes drug. The proposed upper payment limit is $274 for a 30-day supply of Ozempic and the targeted implementation date is January 1, 2027.

2.  The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) provided its final recommendation for the Update Factor (that is, the annual percentage adjustment applied to Maryland hospital rates and global hospital budgets) for Rate Year (RY) 2027. For RY 2027, HSCRC staff proposed an update of 3.95% per capita (4.07% overall revenue increase) for hospitals under Global Budgets and an overall update of 3.37% for hospitals not under Global Budgets, including psychiatric hospitals and Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital.

3.  On July 16, 2026, Governor Wes Moore announced that the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) awarded $7.5 million in grant funding to support 14 community-based projects, expected to serve more than 12,000 Marylanders. The Maryland CHRC is an independent commission within the Maryland Department of Health that expands access to health care services in underserved communities within the State. The 14 community-based projects will serve communities eligible under Governor Moore’s ENOUGH initiative, and are expected to ease the strain on hospital emergency rooms taking care of non-emergency cases.

4.  The Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission met on June 29, 2026, to discuss efforts towards monitoring insurance coverage for Marylanders under the Trump administration. The Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission was established by the Maryland General Assembly in 2017, as a watchdog group consisting of state officials, insurance company representatives, and health care advocates to monitor health insurance coverage under President Trump’s first term. The Commission disbanded during President Biden’s term and was revived by the General Assembly during last year’s Legislative Session. The group will continue to meet with the goal of combatting the impact of federal policies on affordable and accessible health care coverage in Maryland.

Kennedy M. Hagens
410-576-4146 • khagens@gfrlaw.com