Government
Maryland expands Medicaid, insurance access
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 14, 2008
Maryland lawmakers, at the end of their 2007 special session, adopted a measure that could provide health insurance to more than 108,000 of the state's 750,000 uninsured people by 2013. The Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act is expected to cost $755 million by 2013, nearly half of which is expected to be paid with federal funds.
The law will expand Medicaid to parents and childless adults. Starting July 1, Medicaid will cover parents earning up to 116% of the federal poverty level, an increase from 38% of poverty. Medicaid eligibility limits for childless adults also could reach 116% in upcoming years, but the scope and pace of this increase is subject to general economic conditions and voter approval of a referendum on video slot machines in November.
The act also will provide small businesses -- those with two to nine employees -- and their employees with $1,000 or 50% of the cost of insurance premiums, whichever is less. Employees will be subject to an income eligibility, perhaps $50,000, which is expected to be finalized by March, according to Karen Black, spokeswoman for the Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Martin Wasserman, MD, executive director of MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, said the association supported the effort. "I'd call it a good beginning. It's not where you stop, it's where you start," he said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/14/gvbf0114.htm.
