MD HB1142

Establishes the Maryland Interested Parties Advisory Group within the Department of Health to advise on Medicaid payment rate sufficiency for home- and community-based services including homemaker, home health aide, personal care, and habilitation services

Advisory Group membership includes the Deputy Secretary of Health Care Financing (chair), Secretary of Labor, three consumers, two consumer organization representatives, three direct care workers, two worker organization representatives, and three provider association representatives

Requires the Department to provide data at least 30 days before meetings, including payment transparency reports, Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, rate studies, and access-to-care metrics such as number of consumers receiving services and utilization hours

Advisory Group must submit annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly by September 1 beginning in 2026, evaluating Medicaid payment rates and challenges to accessing home- and community-based services

Prohibits employers or state agencies from retaliating against direct care workers or consumers for participating in the Advisory Group; initial members must be appointed by October 1, 2025, with the law taking effect July 1, 2025