Maryland applies medical record privacy laws to crisis pregnancy clinics starting October 2026

Original title: Health Facilities - Confidentiality of Medical Records - Crisis Pregnancy Clinics

Last action · February 4, 2026: Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsors: Dawn Gile and 4 others

Companion · HB 615same policy, House version

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What This Bill Would Do

Senate Bill 563 applies state medical record confidentiality laws to crisis pregnancy clinics, including mobile facilities that provide pregnancy-related care and are not covered entities under HIPAA. The legislation takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Patients utilizing crisis pregnancy clinics will gain legal protections regarding the privacy and confidentiality of their medical records under state law.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Crisis pregnancy clinics

Crisis pregnancy clinics and their mobile facilities must comply with state medical record confidentiality laws.

Directly affected

Patients of crisis pregnancy clinics

Patients receiving care at these clinics receive state-mandated confidentiality protections for their medical records.

Key Facts

Crisis pregnancy clinics are added to the definition of a "health care provider" under Section 4-301(h) of the Health-General Article.
The inclusion covers mobile facilities that provide pregnancy-related health care and are not covered entities under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Agents, employees, officers, and directors of these facilities are included in the definition of health care providers.
The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of facilities are newly included under Maryland's medical record confidentiality rules?

Crisis pregnancy clinics, including mobile facilities that provide pregnancy-related health care and are not covered entities under HIPAA, are newly included.

When does this change take effect?

The Act takes effect on October 1, 2026.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.

Procedural history

2 actions

Feb 4, 2026Senate
Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 4, 2026SenateIntroduced
First Reading Finance

Version history

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