��������� Legislative Hotline
2008 SESSION OF THE
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Volume 15, Number 9����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� March 27, 2008
Here are some of the hot issues as the 2008
Legislative Session develops:
NANOBIOTECH FUNDING (CENTR FUND)
SELF REFERRAL BILLS WITHDRAWN IN THE HOUSE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING PROGRAM/ADVISORY COUNCIL ON
������ PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING – STUDY
MARYLAND FALSE HEALTH CLAIMS ACT
MD TRAUMA PHYSICIAN SERVICES FUND
BILLS
INTRODUCED
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION
JHM Capital Requests
The
Governor provided $10M for the
The Governor’s five year
capital improvement plan funds the MICUA capital program at the current rate of
$8Mfor FY 2009.� If that amount does not
change, the Gilman Hall project will receive $1M for FY 2009, for a total state
commitment of $3M.� The Senate added $1M
to the MICUA capital program, giving Gilman Hall an additional $0.25M for
FY09.� The House chose to fund the MICUA
capital program at $8M.� The differences
between these plans will be worked out in conference committee.
This bill would authorize
HSCRC to implement a uniform assessment on hospitals to reflect the aggregate
reduction in hospital uncompensated care realized from the Medicaid expansion
passed during the Special Session.�
Contingent upon the bill’s passage, Medicaid day limits will end
as of July 1, 2008.� The House version of
this bill has passed the House and is now in the Senate and the Senate version
has passed the Senate and is being considered by the House.� The only difference between the two is the
implementation date for the Medicaid expansion; the House calls for
implementation on July 1, 2008, while the Senate delays start until January 1,
2009.
The House and the Senate
concurred in increasing Sellinger funding by 4.51%
over the FY 2008 appropriation.� This
brings the total appropriation for the Sellinger
program to $58.6M for FY 2009, and maintains the historical funding connection
between all segments of higher education.�
House Appropriations voted
to reduce stem cell research funding to $15M; $8M less than the Governor's
proposal of $23M.� This is less drastic
than the Senate's cut (which would reduce funding to $5M).� A conference committee will determine a
compromise between the Senate and House actions.
Nanobiotech funding (CENTR fund)
The House also differed with
the Senate on Nanobiotech funding, cutting the entire
amount.� Because the Senate approved the
transfer of $3M of existing economic development funds from other sources
within the Department of Business and Economic Development to be used in FY
2009 for this purpose, this issue will also be decided by conference
committee.��
Self Referral bills withdrawn in the
House
The two bills regarding
patient referrals for imaging and radiation therapy services were withdrawn by
the bills’ sponsors this week.� The
bills would have authorized health care practitioners to make referrals for
magnetic resonance imaging services, radiation therapy services, and computer
tomography scan services by changing the definition of “in-office
ancillary services.”� Johns Hopkins
submitted testimony in opposition, citing possible patient safety and ethical
issues surrounding self referral by physicians.�
A similar Senate bill on patient referrals for imaging and radiation
therapy services is still in committee.�
It is unlikely that it will pass considering that the House versions
were withdrawn.�
Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program/Advisory Council on Prescription Drug Monitoring - Study
The House has adopted
amendments to the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program bill.� As amended, the bill establishes an Advisory
Council on Prescription Drug Monitoring to study and evaluate the feasibility
and desirability of establishing a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program and
develop a proposal for establishing such a program.� The bill has passed the House and is being
considered in the Senate.�
The Senate voted down the
Maryland False Heath Claims Act, submitted at the request of the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene, by a margin of 21-25 on the Senate floor this
week.� A broader bill on the same subject
which is not limited to health claims is still in committee in the House and
Senate, but these are unlikely to pass given that the narrower departmental
bill was killed.
MD Trauma Physician Services Fund
Senate Bill 916 would allow
Johns Hopkins Level I Adult and
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BILLS INTRODUCED
BILLS INTRODUCED
sb0797� Labor and Employment - Wage Payment on Termination of
Employment - Accrued Leave
This bill requires that an employer give notice of
leave benefits, rate of pay, and regular pay dates at the time of hiring and
disclose any changes in payday or wages to the employee.� If an employer has a written policy to pay
accrued leave to an employee at termination of employment then the employer
will be held to the written policy.� The
bill is retroactive, affecting employees who were terminated on or after
November 1, 2007, and is an emergency bill, meaning that it would take effect
upon the date of enactment.
Effective
Date:� Emergency Measure
For more
information, please contact:� Delora
Sanchez
[Go to Top]����� [Go to Bills
Introduced]
HB1540� Health Care Reform Act of 2008
This bill will
establish the Maryland Health Care Cost and Quality Transparency Commission in
DHMH.� On or before December 1, 2010 the
Commission is required to adopt a health care cost and quality transparency
plan that will result in the transparent reporting of safety, quality, and cost
efficiency information at all levels of the health care system.� The Commission will include the following
members appointed by the Governor:
- one representative from an
institution of higher learning with experience in health care data and
cost efficiency research;
- one representative of
hospitals;
- one representative of
physicians;
- one representative of large
employers that purchase group health care coverage for employees and who
is not also a supplier or broker of health care coverage;
- one representative of a labor
union;
- one representative of a
nonprofit organization with experience working with employers to enhance
value and affordability of health care coverage;
- one representative of
consumers;
- one representative of the
insurance industry; and
- one representative of small
employers that purchase health insurance for employees.
The
following members will serve in the ex officio nonvoting capacity:
- the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s designee;
- the Director of the Office of
Personnel Services and Benefits, or the Directors designee;
- the Insurance Commissioner, or
the Commissioners designee; and
- the Executive Director of the
Maryland Health Care Commission, or the Executive Director’s
Designee.
This bill
will also establish the Health Care Cost and Quality Transparency Fund to
support the activities of the Commission and the Maryland Cooperative Health
Insurance Purchasing Program to provide access to affordable and comprehensive
health insurance for employees and their dependants.
Effective
Date:� July 1, 2008
For more
information, please contact:� Delora
Sanchez
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Introduced]
hb1602� Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in
Maryland
This bill establishes
the Commission to Study the Impact of Immigrants in Maryland.� The Commission will study the demographic
profile and impact of immigrants on the State and shall reasonably reflect the
geographic, racial, ethnic, cultural and gender diversity of the State.� The Commission consists of the following
members:
- two members of the Senate of
Maryland, appointed by the President of the Senate;
- two members of the House of
Delegates, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
- the Secretary of Business and
Economic Development, or the Secretary’s designee;
- the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene, or the Secretary’s designee;
- the Secretary of Human
Resources, or the Secretary’s designee;
- the Secretary of Labor, Licensing,
and Regulation, or the Secretary’s designee;
- the Secretary of the Maryland
Department of Planning;
- a representative of the
Maryland State Bar Association Immigration Section; and
- five members, appointed by the
Governor.
The
Commission will report its findings to the Governor and the General Assembly on
or before January 1, 2011.
Effective
Date:� June 1, 2008
For more
information, please contact:� Delora
Sanchez
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Introduced]
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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
410-269-0057
fax 410-269-1574
Mickey Geisler��������� �����
[email protected]
Matthew Greenwood����
[email protected]
Sheila Higdon��������� ����� [email protected]
Tom Lewis���������������� ����� [email protected]
Mat Palmer��������������� ����� [email protected]
Delora Sanchez������ ����� [email protected]
Ines Vigil������������������ ����� [email protected]
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Introduced]
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