Government
Massachusetts-like universal plan would cost Maryland $2.5 billion
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 19, 2007
The Maryland Health Care Commission estimated in a Feb. 15 report that the state would need an extra $2.5 billion for a health reform program that would cover 98% of Marylanders, modeled on the Massachusetts plan. But household spending on health care would drop by $1.75 billion.
The commission -- an independent state agency charged with devising and managing certain health care policies -- modeled the plan so legislators would know what a generous universal plan would cost, said Rex Cowdry, MD, executive director of the Maryland Health Care Commission. "It's a nonstarter proposal because of the budget implications," he said.
The Maryland General Assembly is considering more modest proposals, such as Medicaid expansions, Dr. Cowdry said. In 2005, approximately 780,000 Marylanders were uninsured, the report said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/03/19/gvbf0319.htm.