SB385 - Pharmacist Immunizations and Required Health Insurance Coverage (Vax Act)
Summary
Maryland Governor signed SB385 (Vax Act) into law on April 14, 2026. The law authorizes pharmacists to administer an expanded range of vaccinations and requires health insurers to cover evidence-based preventive services recommended by the Secretary of Health. Before adopting new preventive service coverage requirements, the Secretary must conduct a public notice and comment period and obtain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission.
What changed
Maryland SB385 (Vax Act), signed April 14, 2026, grants pharmacists expanded authority to administer vaccinations and mandates that health insurers cover preventive services recommended by the Secretary of Health. The law requires the Secretary to base recommendations on evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance, and before mandating coverage for any new preventive service, must provide a public notice and comment period and obtain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission.
Affected parties include pharmacists and pharmacies, health insurers, and the Maryland Department of Health. Pharmacists should monitor forthcoming DHMH guidance on specific vaccine types they may administer. Health insurers should review their current preventive service coverage to identify any gaps relative to forthcoming recommendations. Healthcare stakeholders should participate in public comment periods when preventive service recommendations are proposed.
What to do next
- Monitor Maryland DHMH guidance on expanded pharmacist vaccination authority
- Review health insurance preventive service coverage against new requirements
- Prepare for upcoming public comment periods on preventive service recommendations
Archived snapshot
Apr 15, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ChangeBridge / Maryland / SB385 Signed by Governor SB385 Senate Bill Signed by Governor 2026-04-14
Public Health - Recommendations for Immunizations, Screenings, and Preventive Services - Pharmacist Administration and Required Health Insurance Coverage (The Vax Act)
Requiring the Secretary of Health to issue recommendations for certain immunizations, screenings, and preventive services based on certain evidence-based scientific and clinical guidance; requiring the Secretary, before adopting a recommendation for a certain preventive service to hold a notice and comments period, obtain a certain analysis from the Maryland Health Care Commission, and cite the basis for the recommendation; altering the authority of pharmacists to administer certain vaccinations; etc.
Bill Details
State Maryland
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation...
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Sponsors
Malcolm Augustine (Sen - D) Pamela Beidle (Sen - D) Kevin Harris (Sen - D) Shelly Hettleman (Sen - D) Cheryl Kagan (Sen - D) Nancy King (Sen - D) Clarence Lam (Sen - D) Karen Lewis Young (Sen - D) Sara Love (Sen - D) Craig Zucker (Sen - D)
Action History
2026-04-14 S Approved by the Governor - Chapter 8 2026-04-08 S Returned Passed 2026-04-07 H Third Reading Passed (105-32) 2026-04-03 H Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed 2026-04-03 H Favorable Report by Health 2026-03-25 H Hearing 4/02 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-03-23 H Referred Health 2026-03-23 S Third Reading Passed (32-12) 2026-03-20 S Second Reading Passed with Amendments 2026-03-20 S Favorable with Amendments {583921/1 Adopted 2026-03-20 S Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance 2026-01-27 S Hearing 2/10 at 1:00 p.m. 2026-01-27 S First Reading Finance
Votes
2026-03-23 Third Reading Passed Yea: 32 Nay: 12 2026-04-07 Third Reading Passed Yea: 105 Nay: 32
Committee Referrals
2026-01-27 S Finance 2026-03-23 H Health
Amendments
2026-03-20 Favorable with Amendments 583921/1 Adopted Adopted
Bill Text Versions
2026-01-27 Introduced 2026-03-20 Engrossed
Subjects
Health Care Facilities and Regulation Health - Insurance Health Occupations Children (4-12) Electronic Government Health Health, Department of Health Insurance Immunization Infants and Toddlers (0-3) internet Pharmacists and Pharmacies Public Information Standards and Best Practices Time Health Care Commission Notices studies Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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