Lt. Governor Brown Receives Public Health Hero Award
Honored by Health Care for All! Coalition for Leadership in Improving Health of Maryland’s Citizens
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (June 7, 2012) – Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown was honored as Maryland’s Public Health Hero by the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition during a luncheon at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. The event recognized the Lt. Governor’s leadership in improving the health of Maryland’s citizens and celebrated the health care and public health successes of the 2012 Legislative Session and the previous five years under the O'Malley-Brown Administration.
“I am honored to accept this recognition on behalf of the entire O’Malley-Brown Administration and all those working every day to make Maryland the healthiest state in the nation. Thank you to the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition for being such a dedicated partner in our efforts to reduce smoking and improve the health and wellbeing of our communities,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Governor O’Malley and I are committed to expanding access, reducing costs, and improving the quality of health care for all Marylanders because we understand health care isn’t just about curing disease. It’s about creating conditions where Marylanders can live healthier lives, where they can be more productive, where they can take advantage of all the opportunities we have in our great State. While we have made progress, we won’t be satisfied until every Marylander has the opportunity to live a healthy, productive life.”
“First as a Delegate and now as Lt. Governor, Anthony Brown has played a big role in putting Maryland among the top states in the nation in expanding health care access and improving public health by reducing smoking and alcohol abuse,” said Vincent DeMarco, President of the Maryland Health Care For All! Coalition. “That is why we are proud to name Lt. Governor Brown Maryland’s Public Health Hero.”
As Chair of the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council and the Co-Chair of the Governor’s Health Reform Coordinating Council, Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s health care efforts. During the 2012 session of the Maryland General Assembly, Lt. Governor Brown championed legislation to advance Maryland’s Health Benefit Exchange, as well as a measure to reduce health disparities among racial and ethnic groups and geographic areas by creating the innovative Health Enterprise Zones pilot program.
Since 2007, under the leadership of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown, Maryland has implemented reforms that have expanded health coverage to over 330,000 Marylanders, half of whom are children, and put the State in position to maximize the federal Affordable Care Act. Last year Maryland enacted a life-saving alcohol tax increase, and reduced smoking by 32% (double the national average) saving tens of thousands of lives. The budget approved this year dedicates the proceeds from the alcohol sales tax increase to health care and community service needs. This year, the Administration and the General Assembly enacted a historic increase in the tax on little cigars and smokeless tobacco which will save thousands of young people from addiction to these deadly products.
The Health Care for All! Coalition is a broad-based coalition of over 1200 faith, labor, business and community groups that have been working to guarantee all Marylanders access to quality, affordable health care. To learn more, visit http://www.healthcareforall.com.
