Johns Hopkins Institutions



Legislative Hotline

2003 SESSION OF THE
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY



Volume 11, Number 10 March 12, 2003


Here are some of the hot issues of the 2003 Legislative Session:

OPEN HEART CERTIFICATE OF NEED LEGISLATION
EHRLICH REVISES SLOT MACHINE LEGISLATION
SENATE BILL 555 � HIGHER EDUCATION � AID TO NONPUBLIC INSTITUTIONS � CALCULATION OF JOSEPH A. SELLINGER PROGRAM GRANT

BILLS INTRODUCED
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION

OPEN HEART CERTIFICATE OF NEED LEGISLATION

SB 337 - Cardiac Services � Licensing and SB 424 - Hospitals - Certificate of Need - Open Heart Surgery were heard before the Senate Finance Committee on Thursday, March 6th. Regarding the bills, much of the debate has been the same as past hearings, focusing on the �haves and have-nots�.

However, the hearing in the Senate was slightly different. During the hearing in the House of Delegates, there was discussion of the possibility of decoupling angioplasty from open heart surgery while the Senate discussion centered on an amendment that has been proposed by Nelson Sabatini (an Executive Vice President at the University of Maryland Medical System and nominee for Secretary of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene).

The proposed amendment would require the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) to consider and approve an Angioplasty Pilot Project by October 1, 2003 not to be limited to hospitals currently participating in the Atlantic Cardiovascular Patient Outcomes Research Team (C-PORT). The MHCC would also be required to approve an exemption from the State Health Plan Policy requiring on-site cardiac surgery back-up to perform angioplasty for any hospital participating in the Pilot Project.

By December 2003, the MHCC would provide a written report on the implementation including a description of the Angioplasty Pilot Project and the anticipated timetable for the implementation of the Pilot Project. If the MHCC has not adopted and approved the Pilot Project by October 2003, a report must be provided to the General Assembly that would include:

1) a description of each pilot project considered for approval as an Angioplasty Pilot Project;

2) an explanation of the specific objections to each project that resulted in the decision not to approve the project;

3) an explanation of the steps taken by the Commission to address the objections; and

4) steps the Commission has taken and intends to take in the future to ensure that an Angioplasty Pilot Project is considered and approved by the MHCC.

Representatives from Carroll County General Hospital, North Arundel, GBMC, and Shore Health System testified in support of the proposed amendment. It was stated that Southern Maryland, Montgomery General, St. Mary�s Hospital, and Mercy were also in support of the amendment. The University of Maryland Medical System testified in support of the amendment.

The hospitals that currently have a CON did not testify to the amendment and opposed both bills. The MHCC also testified in opposition to the bills and although they had not seen the amendment, Barbara McLean believed the amendment was unnecessary as the Commission was already addressing the issues raised in the amendment.

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EHRLICH REVISES SLOT MACHINE LEGISLATION

On Wednesday, March 5th, Governor Ehrlich unveiled his revised proposal to introduce slot machines in Maryland. This new proposal will raise $230 million less than his previous proposal which means that that even if Ehrlich�s slot machine legislation passes, the legislature will have to raise additional revenues or cut additional dollars in order to pass a balanced budget. The main revisions to the legislation include:

1) Reducing the schools share of money from 64% to 44%,

2) Increasing the tracks share of money from 25% to 46%,

3) Reducing the up front fees charged to racetracks from $100 million to $40 million (the fiscal year 2004 budget was based on the premise that the State would received $350 million in upfront fees, that number will now be only $120 million), and

4) The bill does not address giving increased aid to the neighborhoods most affected by the presence of slot machines.

Ehrlich has stated that he intends to review possible alternative sources of revenue to make up for the dollars lost in his new slot machine proposal, indicating a willingness to work with the legislature on this issue.

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SENATE BILL 555 � HIGHER EDUCATION � AID TO NONPUBLIC INSTITUTIONS � CALCULATION OF JOSEPH A. SELLINGER PROGRAM GRANT

On Thursday, March 6th, Senate Bill 555 was heard before the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. This bill would require that Sellinger Aid to Independent Colleges and Universities be based on the number of in-state residents that an institution enrolls. Although the impact to Johns Hopkins is not as steep as those being recommended by the Department of Legislative Services, it would still represent a 15% cut (over $3 million) to Johns Hopkins. Tina Bjarkell, President of MICUA, and George Houston, President of Mount St. Mary�s College testified in opposition to the legislation. Although the other MICUA Presidents and senior leadership did not testify on the legislation, all of the Independent Colleges and University Associations Schools attended the hearing. The Committee Chair recognized their presence and opposition to the bill. Linda Robertson, Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs represented Johns Hopkins at the hearing. There were no questions asked at the hearing of MICUA, and the bill did not appear to have much support in the Legislature.

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BILLS INTRODUCED
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Miscellaneous


BILLS INTRODUCED

Financial Aid and Scholarships

SB0755     Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program - Physician Assistants
This bill changes the percentage of fees (20% to 13%) the State Comptroller is required to distribute to the General Fund, that was received from the State Board of Physician Quality Assurance from Physician Assistant related services. The bill also requires the Comptroller to distribute 7% of fees to the Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program to assist Physician Assistants engaged in primary care to repay their higher education loans.

Effective Date:July 1, 2003

For more information, please contact: Bret Schreiber


[ Go to Bills Introduced]

Miscellaneous

HB1152     Baltimore City - Charles Village Community Benefits District - Continuation of Authority
This bill declares the intent of the General Assembly that the Charles Village Community Benefits District has been in continuous effect since June 1, 1994, and will remain in effect unless the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore expressly terminate the continuing existence of the District.

Effective Date: October 1, 2003

For more information, please contact: Bret Schreiber


[ Go to Bills Introduced]

STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
Please contact Government Relations if you have concerns or would like additional information. Your input assists us greatly in evaluating and formulating the position of Johns Hopkins on all legislation.

Legislative Session Office
47 State Circle, Suite 203
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-269-0057
fax 410-269-1574


Sheila Higdon shigdon@jhmi.edu
Jim Kaufman jkaufma@jhmi.edu
Bret Schreiber bschreiber@jhu.edu
Nicole Xander nxander@jhmi.edu
Kate Bishop sbishop2@jhu.edu
Jason Spangler jspangle@jhsph.edu
Beth Chaney greltemp@jhmi.edu
Lynette Floyd lfloyd@jhmi.edu
Mickey Giesler mgeisler@jhu.edu

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ACRONYMS

Legislative Hotline is a collaborative service of The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine offices of Government Relations.

© 2003 The Johns Hopkins University. Baltimore, Maryland.
Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs.
Last updated 03mar12