Maryland governor aims to boost insurance access

Medicaid reforms and tax incentives are included in the plan.

By Joel B. Finkelstein, AMNews staff. Dec. 8, 2003.

Washington -- Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has proposed an initiative to help uninsured residents obtain health coverage.

While many states contemplated universal health coverage plans this year, only in California and Massachusetts did lawmakers pass broad-ranging expansion laws that will go into effect over the next few years.

According to current estimates, Maryland has 690,000 uninsured residents, just under 13% of the state's population. Nationally, the uninsured represent 15% of the population.

Ehrlich has proposed a multifaceted strategy to expand coverage and improve the affordability of health insurance. The state Legislature could take the proposal up in next year's session.

The Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene recently has filed for a Medicaid waiver that would allow the program to cover primary care services for 17,000 Marylanders who are already receiving pharmacy assistance from the state.

Other administrative and legislative activity could include medical liability changes, such as alternative dispute mechanisms and medical-error reduction initiatives. Ehrlich also proposed reducing health system waste, fraud and abuse; strengthening the safety net of federally qualified health centers; and encouraging affordable small-group health insurance products.