Maryland’s most recent nonelderly uninsured and employment-based coverage rates are not significantly different from those rates in 2004–2005. In 2006–2007, about 760,000 nonelderly state residents lacked health insurance, amounting to 15.4 percent of Maryland’s nonelderly population. However, the latest uninsured rate is significantly higher than the state’s rate in 2002-2003, 14.4 percent. As in prior [...]
Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch to celebrate landmark legislation to expand medical coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Marylanders and encourage eligible families to enroll in the expanded program. The Governor was also joined by Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers, Department of Human Resources [...]
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is considering the possibility of expanding Medicaid insurance coverage to more adults, a move that could cost the state millions, despite a projected $1.5 billion state budget shortfall, the Baltimore Sun reports. According to the Sun, Maryland %26quot;is one of the leading states in covering children%26quot; through SCHIP, but [...]
Maryland lawmakers have said they will work to pass a health carepackage again this year that reduces the number of uninsured residentsand health insurance premiums, and increases the number of workers inwellness programs, the AP/Washington Timesreports. However, similar efforts have failed in the past, and thestate faces a projected $1.5 billion budget deficit in the [...]
Maryland advocacy groups and lawmakers who support universal healthcare on Wednesday unveiled a new proposal to expand Medicaid to aportion of the state’s 800,000 uninsured residents through a$1-per-pack increase to the state tobacco tax — %26quot;even as state leadersstruggle with a $1.5 billion budget shortfall,%26quot; the Washington Post reports.
Thetobacco tax would raise an estimated $200 [...]
Howard County, Md., officials on Oct. 16 are expected to announce aproposal to provide health care to all uninsured county residents, amove that would put the county %26quot;in the forefront of the national debateabout the availability of health care,%26quot; the Baltimore Sunreports. Under the proposal, uninsured county residents would pay asmall fee to access primary [...]
Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) on Wednesday said he wants toincrease the state cigarette tax to $2 per pack to help address a $1.7billion structural budget deficit and provide a %26quot;down payment%26quot; on ahealth care expansion, the Baltimore Sun reports. According to the Sun,the proposed tax increase %26quot;appears to be aimed at reaching a compromiseamong [...]
The Maryland Insurance Administration earlier this month said that the Medical Mutual Liability Insurance Society of Maryland– the state’s largest malpractice insurer — must pay its full $68.6million dividend to the state or reduce its 2008 premiums, notdistribute a portion of the funds to its policyholders as planned, the Baltimore Sunreports. The insurer declared the [...]
Howard County, Md., officials on Tuesday at a news conferenceunveiled the Healthy Howard program, which aims to provide affordableand coordinated health care to uninsured state residents who are noteligible for state and federal programs, the Baltimore Sun reports (Carson, Baltimore Sun, 10/17).
Tobe eligible for the program, individuals must have lived in the countyfor [...]
Medicaid in Maryland
A Maryland family who has advocated for legislation that would reauthorize and expand SCHIP %26quot;is now stepping back into the divisive debate%26quot; by advocating for state legislation that would expand health coverage for adults, the Washington Post reports (Rein, Washington Post, 10/23).
Graeme Frost, a 12-year-old SCHIP beneficiary, on Sept. 29 delivered Democrats’ [...]