The Governor has introduced two bills related to health reform. The first bill, Senate Bill 238 – Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, proposes to implement the recommendations of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board, developed in conjunction with advisory committees with substantial public input. The second bill, Senate Bill 234 – Maryland Health Improvement and Disparities Reduction Act of 2012, proposes to create health enterprise zones to incentivize community-based initiatives to address health disparities. This bill reflects the work of the Health Disparities Workgroup of the Governor’s Health Care Quality and Cost Council. Stay tuned for more updates on these bills.
The proposed FY 2013 budget has been introduced. The analysis by the Department of Legislative Services shows the state facing a budget shortfall of almost $1.5 billion. Governor O’Malley has proposed to address the gap by reducing expenditures by $615 million, raising over $400 million in new revenue, and transferring more than $100 million from other funds. As has been reported in the press, revenue proposals that will likely be discussed include increases in the gas and “flush” taxes, changes in income tax calculations, and applying the sales tax to certain items sold on the internet. There will be a great deal of debate in the coming weeks both on revenue proposals and budget cuts.
As many of Public Policy Partners’ clients have noticed, the rate at which bills have been introduced so far this session has been slower than usual. With the Senate introduction deadline approaching on February 3rd, we expect to see many hundreds of more bills introduced next week. The introduction deadline for the House is February 10th. Bills introduced after these deadlines are referred to the Senate and House Rules Committees and may or may not get a hearing. For those bills that do get hearings, they are typically limited in terms of the people who can testify.
Earl Adams, Jr. has left his post as Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor Anthony Brown for the private sector. Maia Estes has been elevated from Deputy to Interim Chief of Staff.
Nicole Stallings has left the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to become the Assistant Vice President for Quality Advocacy at the Maryland Hospital Association.
Christine Megna is now Assistant Director of the DHMH Office of Government Affairs.
Suzanne Owen, formerly a DLS policy analyst and special assistant to the Secretary at DHMH, is now working on Capitol Hill in Congressman Elijah Cummings’ office.
Maryland’s People’s Counsel, Paula Carmody, was elected to a one-year term as president of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates.
Maryland Community HealthCorps, an AmeriCorps program of Community Health Integrated Partnership, received a citation from the House of Delegates recognizing its contribution to the promotion of health care to Maryland’s underserved while developing tomorrow’s health care workforce to serve Maryland residents.
