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MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is committed to strengthening Maryland’s health care system and protecting the ability of physicians to care for their patients through legislative advocacy. As the 2026 Session of the Maryland General Assembly convened last week, I encourage everyone to participate and advocate for their patients and practices.
MedChi's key legislative priorities for 2026 include:
• Holding Health Insurers Accountable
MedChi will propose reforms to laws governing health insurance companies that delay patient care and allow insurers, not physicians, to determine what care is appropriate. Unnecessary credentialing delays prevent providers from joining insurer networks, and billing practices that enable insurers to reduce billed charges cause physicians to spend more time on administrative tasks than on patient care. Our legislation will tackle these problems.
• Strengthening Medicaid and Access to Care
MedChi will safeguard Maryland’s investment in Medicaid by making sure payments to providers are set at rates that encourage their participation. Evaluation & Management (E&M) payment rates should be 100% of Medicare E&M rates to ensure access to care for all Marylanders.
• Protecting Maryland’s Medical Liability Environment
MedChi will fight efforts to weaken current liability protections for health care providers, such as legislation that repeals or increases non-economic damages caps, or that lowers standards for awarding punitive damages. Exposing physicians to higher damage awards increases their malpractice insurance costs and only worsens the State’s severe physician shortage.
Your participation and involvement truly have an impact on Maryland's healthcare system. To make your voice heard, I encourage you to join MedChi’s Council on Legislation. The council helps guide MedChi’s advocacy work in Annapolis during the legislative session. Members review bills that may affect physicians and patients, discuss how proposed legislation could impact medical practice, and help MedChi determine its positions. Click here to learn more today!
New to legislative advocacy? Interested in more ways to participate? Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.
Gene M. Ransom III
CEO
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
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