Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2026 - Healthcare Practitioner Parity

Detected April 7th, 2026

Summary

The Maryland General Assembly passed SB326, the Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2026, granting physician assistants expanded authority comparable to other healthcare practitioners. The bill extends to actions related to guardianship of disabled persons, admissions to mental health facilities, and the Emergency and Allergy Treatment Program. It also addresses coverage for certain emergency examinations by the Maryland Department of Health and modifies provisions for pregnant incarcerated individuals.

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What changed

SB326 amends Maryland health occupations law to include physician assistants among healthcare practitioners authorized to take actions related to guardianship of disabled persons, admissions to mental health facilities, and participation in the Emergency and Allergy Treatment Program. The bill also modifies provisions regarding pregnant incarcerated individuals and requires the Maryland Department of Health to cover charges for certain emergency examinations.

Healthcare facilities, physician assistant programs, and provider organizations should prepare for expanded scope of practice authority for physician assistants once the bill becomes effective. Implementation will require updates to admission protocols, guardianship procedures, and emergency treatment workflows to incorporate physician assistants alongside other authorized healthcare practitioners.

What to do next

Monitor for Governor's signature and effective date
Update healthcare facility policies to reflect expanded physician assistant authority
Review and revise scope of practice guidelines for physician assistants

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Maryland / SB326 Passed SB326 Senate Bill Passed 2026-03-19

Physician Assistants and Midwives - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners (Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2026)

Altering certain provisions of law to include physician assistants in the health care practitioners who may take certain actions, including actions related to the guardianship of disabled persons, admissions to mental health facilities and the Emergency and Allergy Treatment Program; altering the health care practitioners that may order that a pregnant incarcerated individual be admitted to the infirmary; requiring the Maryland Department of Health to cover charges related certain examinations for certain emergency evaluees; etc.

Bill Details

State Maryland

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation...

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Action History

2026-04-07 H Third Reading Passed (136-0) 2026-04-03 H Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed 2026-04-03 H Favorable Report by Health 2026-03-20 H Hearing 4/01 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-03-20 H Referred Health 2026-03-19 S Third Reading Passed (45-0) 2026-03-17 S Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-03-17 S Favorable with Amendments {683022/1 Adopted 2026-03-16 S Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance 2026-01-27 S Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-01-22 S First Reading Finance

Votes

2026-03-19 Third Reading Passed Yea: 45 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-22 S Finance 2026-03-20 H Health

Amendments

2026-03-17 Favorable with Amendments 683022/1 Adopted Adopted

Bill Text Versions

2026-01-22 Introduced 2026-03-17 Engrossed

Subjects

Health Occupations Committee Changes Committees and Commissions Disabilities disparity Emergencies Ethics Good Samaritan Health Health, Department of Immunization Medical Equipment and Devices Medical Treatments Mental and Behavioral Health Parents and Guardians Petitions Physician Assistants Poverty Work, Labor, and Employment Emergency Medical Services Health Care Commission Health Maintenance Organizations Incarcerated Individuals Midwives Pregnancy Reports studies Time Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)