The Department of Legislative Services (DLS) presented the Medicaid budget analysis in both the House and Senate on February 20 and February 21, respectively.  The analysis included a discussion of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's action on reduced MCO rates and the elimination of the Rural Access Incentive and how these actions resulted in two MCOs, including Priority Partners, closing to new members in certain counties.  DLS did not recommend any reductions to hospital, physician, or MCO rates.  The majority of the recommended cuts reflect money in the Medicaid budget that is not expected to be needed.


Sellinger Program Budget Hearings

On February 20 and 22, the budget for the Sellinger Program was heard in the House and Senate, respectively.  As proposed, the FY 2014 operating budget fully-funds the program at the statutorily recommended level of $41.3 million.  The Maryland Independent College and University Association testified in favor of the budget, as did Johns Hopkins with written support.  State Affairs will continue to work with the appropriate legislators in an effort to maintain our budgeted funding level.


Senate Recognizes Comprehensive Transplant Center

The 30-year-old niece of Montgomery County Senator Jamie Raskin received a double-lung transplant at the Johns Hopkins Hospital 18 months ago, inspiring the Senator to introduce legislation to increase the level of organ donation education and awareness.  At the Senator's request, Dr. Christian Merlo and other members of the Comprehensive Transplant Center were honored on the Senate floor.  Following a standing ovation, Senate President Miller thanked the Johns Hopkins team and remarked that no matter where he travels throughout the world, people always know that Maryland is home to Johns Hopkins.  Later that afternoon Dr. Ashish Shah, Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation, testified alongside his young patient in support of the proposed bill that would require all driver's training programs in the state to include 30 minutes of education on organ donation.


Medical Liability

On February 19 the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee held a hearing on SB 771. The bill aims to reduce the current 10% post judgment interest rate to the greater of 3% or the prime rate.  SB 771 is one of four medical liability bills that are being spearheaded by a coalition of the largest hospital systems in the state, including Johns Hopkins.  The hospital systems - Johns Hopkins, MedStar Health, LifeBridge Health, and University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) - presented on a panel in support of the bill.  Lauree Barreca, Senior Counsel for Claims and Litigation and Delora Sanchez with State Affairs provided testimony on behalf of Johns Hopkins.  In addition, Medical Mutual, the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Tort Reform Coalition, and the Maryland Hospital Association provided testimony in support.  The only opponents were the Maryland Association for Justice (formerly the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association) who argued that the bill was not needed, but did not provide any substantive argument to that claim.  The House cross-file of the bill will be heard on March 6th.  In the meantime the government affairs offices of each of the hospital systems are lobbying the Senate Judicial Proceedings members to encourage them to give the bill a favorable vote.


Palliative Care

On February 19, Dr. Steve Wilks, Medical Director for the Palliative Care program at Suburban Hospital, testified before the Health and Government Operations Committee to offer the Johns Hopkins position on HB 581.  As drafted, this bill would require all hospitals with 50 beds or more to have a palliative care program that is either Joint Commission accredited or meets the standards set by the Joint Commission for palliative care programs as set forth in regulation.  Johns Hopkins joined the Maryland Hospital Association in offering amendments that would establish pilot programs around the state in order to gather data and best practices on the delivery of palliative care in Maryland.  This will allow the targeted palliative care programs to inform the state's development of standardized palliative care programs at Maryland hospitals.  In his testimony, Dr. Wilks spoke of the challenges that hospital-based palliative programs face such as financial sustainability, difficulty in recruiting and retaining palliative providers, and no simple way to account for the cost savings that palliative care engenders.


Prescription Drugs

On Febraury 21, Meghan Davlin Swarthout and Amy Nathanson, pharmacists from the Department of Pharmacy and the Home Care group, traveled to Annapolis to provide testimony in support of two pieces of legislation.  The first would limit the ability of a pharmacy permit holder to engage in wholesale distribution by authorizing wholesale distribution only with another pharmacy permit holder.  The other would expand patient access for specialty medications and allow patients to choose the pharmacy they would like to utilize for specialty pharmacy services.  Johns Hopkins is supports the bills but offered an amendment on each to further expand protections for patients and to provide a technical change.  The bill cross-files will be heard in the Senate in the coming weeks.

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BILLS INTRODUCED

General Education

HB1417 Public Schools - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Instruction - Graduation Requirement

HB 1417 requires a public school student to complete instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external defibrillator to graduate from high school, beginning with students entering grade 9 in the 2013-2014 school year.

Effective Date: July 1, 2013
For more information, please contact: Delora Sanchez

HB1423 Task Force to Study Mental Illness Among Students in Public Schools

HB 1423 establishes the Task Force to Study Mental Illness Among Students in Public Schools.

Effective Date: June 1, 2013
For more information, please contact: Delora Sanchez

SB0995 Teaching Techniques - Students with Special Needs and Limited English Proficiency

SB 995 requires the State Department of Education to ensure that certified teachers receive adequate instruction in appropriate behavior intervention and teaching techniques for students with special needs and students with limited English proficiency.

Effective Date: October 1, 2013
For more information, please contact: Delora Sanchez


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