ANNAPOLIS, MD (October 25, 2007) –Governor Martin O’Malley, joined by Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, leaders of the Maryland General Assembly and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John M. Colmers, today announced a new healthcare proposal that would extend medical coverage to more than 100,000 uninsured Marylanders – including poor adults and children. Maryland currently has almost 800,000 residents who are uninsured, and ranks among the lowest states in Medicaid eligibility.
“As members of the General Assembly come together to address the fiscal challenges of our State, I hope they will also focus on what is possible to improve the quality, access, and affordability of healthcare in our State,” said Governor O’Malley. “Right now, in Maryland there are almost 800,000 people living without health insurance. In many cases, health care is too expensive and out of reach for Maryland families, and when its available health care quality is not what it should be. We can and must do better.”
The Governor’s proposal, which will be introduced during the special session next week, would:
“The measure goes a long way towards providing health insurance for those working families who do not have it, and are unlikely to get it from their employers,” said Senator Thomas M. Middleton, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
“This is an important step forward to expand access to affordable, high quality health care for Maryland residents,” said Delegate Peter A. Hammen, Chair of the House Health and Government Operations Committee. “I commend the Governor for his efforts and look forward to working with him during the Special Session.”
“The Governor’s plan rightly focuses on all three legs of the healthcare stool: access, affordability, and quality,” stated Senator Rob Garagiola, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee’s Heath Subcommittee. “It will reduce the ranks of the uninsured, help small businesses to provide coverage for their employees, and increase the focus on personal responsibility, wellness, and disease prevention.”
In addition, Governor O’Malley signed an Executive Order this morning establishing the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council to coordinate best practices of the private and public sector to improve health care in our State.
The Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council will be chaired by Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, and shall:
“While finding a solution to the budget deficit, we must also renew our commitment to help Maryland’s underserved population. For the wealthiest state in the nation to have 800,000 residents without health insurance is unconscionable,” said Lt. Governor Brown. “Governor O’Malley has put forward a comprehensive and long-term solution to Maryland’s budget deficit as well as a plan to extend medical coverage to our uninsured. Now it is time for the General Assembly to come together, find consensus, and act.”
Governor O’Malley has also asked the Maryland Health Care Commission to move forward as quickly as possible to create a Health Information Exchange that allows patients and providers to share vital information on a real time basis. Information Technology has tremendous potential for improving quality of care and eliminating many unnecessary costs.
“Maryland provides generous health care coverage for our children, but we lag behind other states in providing coverage for adults,” said DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers. “This initiative will enable us to make health care more affordable for adult family members and those who work for small businesses.”
“Hospital emergency rooms are burdened with the uninsured,” said Sister Helen Amos, Executive Chair of Mercy’s Health Services Board of Trustees. “This proposal will be an important expansion, will help many of those uninsured to get health care, and will reduce the cost of uncompensated care that we all pay. This is good for all of us.”
[ View Information Sheet - View Executive Order ]