2023 Legislative Priorities

Our 2023 Care Agenda

In our coalition’s first year, we brought together workers, advocates, families, and policy leaders to advocate for legislation that strengthens care for seniors and other vulnerable populations and improves conditions for caregivers. We built a strong foundation of support that helped us win legislative victories for caregivers and patients in 2024 and 2025.

Passed in the House only:

  • Home Care Medicaid Rate and Wage Increase (HB 318/SB 604), sponsored by Delegate Heather Bagnall - This bill would have increased funding for certain Medicaid-funded home care programs and earmarked some of that money for fair home care worker wages, improving job quality, recruitment, and retention.

  • Preventing Home Care Worker Misclassification (SB 180/ HB 489), sponsored by Senator Pam Beidle and Delegate Robbyn Lewis - This bill would have ensured that personal care aides who work under certain Medicaid programs are properly classified as employees and not misclassified as independent contractors.

Legislation that passed:

  • Nursing Homes - Acquisitions and Licensure (SB 509/ HB 702), sponsored by Senator Malcolm Augustine and Delegate Ken Kerr - This bill prevents bad actors from entering the state to acquire healthcare facilities by requiring the Maryland Healthcare Commission and the Office of Healthcare Equality to share information with one another. Increased transparency around an operator’s past work in and outside Maryland can help to determine whether they will be a responsible owner and operator of facilities in our state.   

Did not pass in either chamber:

  • Homecare Registry (SB 230 / HB 490), sponsored by Senator Pam Beidle and Delegate Robbyn Lewis - The bill would have required the Department of Aging to establish and maintain a home care worker registry including all home care agency employees and information about their training and specializations. Such a registry is a vital tool as Maryland works to meet the needs of a growing aging population.

    Wage Passthrough for Nursing Home Workers (SB 468 / HB 725), sponsored by Senator Jim Rosapepe and Delegate Shaneka Henson - The Maryland Medicaid Wage Pass-through Act would have increased Medicaid provider reimbursement rates for skilled nursing facilities and allowed the increase to be allocated towards direct care worker wages and benefits.