DISSINTER

SB 490 — Maryland

Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Step Therapy, Fail-First Protocols, and Prior Authorization - Prescription Drugs to Treat Serious Mental Illness

Prohibiting the Maryland Medical Assistance Program from applying a prior authorization requirement in certain circumstances to and from applying a step therapy or fail-first protocol for a prescription drug used to treat an adult enrollee's diagnosis of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or a medication-induced movement disorder associated with the treatment of serious mental illness.

Latest action: Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. · Feb 3, 2026

In committeeDrugsHealth InsuranceMedical AssistanceMedical ConditionsMedical TreatmentsMental and Behavioral HealthPublic BenefitsPublic HealthStandards and Best PracticesSunset

Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.

Committees: Finance (Senate)

Updated Mar 17, 2026

Timeline

  1. First Reading Finance

    Feb 2, 2026 · Senate

  2. Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m.

    Feb 3, 2026 · Senate

Sponsored by Clarence Lam

No recorded floor votes yet.

Fiscal and Policy Note — official analysis by legislative staff (PDF) Bill text (First reading) — Maryland General Assembly (PDF) Official record — Maryland General Assembly bill page

Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 27, 2026 (partial import — not yet the full session). Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.