As Maryland continues its fast-paced plans for implementing health care reform measures, a number of the policy players are changing roles. Here are some highlights:
- Wendy Kronmiller - Currently DHMH Secretary Sharfstein's Chief of Staff & Assistant Secretary for Regulatory Affairs, will leave her position with the State on September 2nd to begin a new job with Erickson Living, a leading developer and manager of continuing care retirement communities in several states, including three in Maryland.
- John Colmers - The former DHMH Secretary was recently appointed by the Governor to Chair the Health Services Cost Review Commission. Also appointed at members were Dr. Bernadette Loftus, Thomas Mullen, and Jack Keane. These appointments were made on the heels of the announcement of the resignation of the HSCRC's executive director, Robert Murray. Principal Deputy Director Stephen Ports is serving as the interim director.
- Senator Barry Glassman and Delegate Nic Kipke - These two Republican legislators were recently named to the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council as new members.
The initial work of the Board of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange has included beginning recruitment for an executive director and other crucial positions, applying for federal funding through the Establishment Grant, issuing RFPs for policy studies due by the 2012 legislative session, and establishing the membership of advisory committees. The next meeting is August 16th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at MDOT.
Many of you participated in the public comment process developed by DHMH and the Medicaid Advisory Committee (MAC) to collect ideas on how to achieve the $40 million budget reduction made to the Medicaid budget by the legislature for the current fiscal year. Having held two public hearings and accepted written suggestions, the MAC will discuss these suggestions and provide its recommendations to DHMH at the MAC meeting on August 25th at 1:00 p.m. at DHMH headquarters. The Department is then expected to make its final decisions by September 1st with a goal of implementing changes by October 1st. It is not too late to submit any last minute ideas. Comments can be made until close of business August 10th by emailing medicaidcostcontainment@dhmh.state.md.us. All MAC meetings are open to the public.
Ann Ciekot, a partner with Public Policy Partners, won the 2011 MACS Achievement Award for her leadership in securing passage of historic legislation to raise the alcohol tax for the first time in decades. Ms. Ciekot was working on behalf of her client, the Maryland Chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, to promote the bill. The Maryland Association of Community Services (MACS) recognized Ms. Ciekot for the impact of her work on the broader advocacy community, as she played a pivotal role in coordinating the efforts of dozens of advocacy organizations.
Congratulations to Sonia Kumar, director of the Juvenile Justice Project for the ACLU of Maryland, who was just named one of the recipients of the Daily Record's Very Important Professionals award. VIP recognizes Maryland leaders based on their professional accomplishments, a commitment to inspiring change in their community, and their tremendous accomplishments achieved before or by age 40. Public Policy Partners was pleased to work with Sonia and the ACLU during the previous session to pass legislation intended to bring parity to the quality of services provided to girls in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Services.
