Legislative Hotline

2015 SESSION OF THE
MARYLAND GENERAL ASSEMBLY





Volume 21, Number 5




March 12, 2015

Here are some of the hot issues as the 2015 Legislative Session develops:

Maryland No Fault Injured Baby Fund
Self-Referral
Pharmacists Agreements
Budget Hearings in Annapolis
New Deputy Secretary Selected for Maryland Medicaid

BILLS INTRODUCED
STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION


Maryland No Fault Injured Baby Fund
Legislation to create a no-fault birth injury fund was heard in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee the week of March 2. The legislation will ensure access to obstetrics care by providing for lifetime care and compensation to babies who suffer birth injuries and is a top priority for the Maryland Hospital Association and member hospitals. Johns Hopkins, Mercy, University of Maryland Medical Center, and Medical Mutual testified in support of the legislation. The bill was opposed by the Maryland Association for Justice, the trial lawyers’ professional organization.


Self-Referral
Dr. Barry Meisenberg, Director of Anne Arundel Medical Center's Gaeton and Joanne DeCesaris Cancer Institute, provided testimony on behalf of Johns Hopkins and the Maryland Hospital Association in opposition to legislation that would allow oncologists to self-refer to an oncology group practice for radiation therapy and CT. Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland Medical System, MedStar, the Maryland Hospital Association, and the Maryland Radiological Society, strongly oppose self-referral legislation because studies have shown that it fosters over-utilization of services that may not be medically necessary and increases health care costs.


Pharmacists Agreements
Meghan Swarthout, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, Director of Ambulatory Care Transition Services, David Cosgrove, MD, MBBCh, Assistant Professor of Oncology, and John J. Lewin III, Pharm.D., M.B.A., FASHP, Division Director, Critical Care and Surgery Pharmacy Services, provided testimony in the House and Senate the week of March 2 in support of legislation that would allow advance practice nurses with prescriptive authority to enter into drug therapy agreements with pharmacists. Johns Hopkins is very supportive of the legislation which will allow pharmacists to act as physician extenders to increase access to care and reduce costs.


Budget Hearings in Annapolis
At budget hearings the week of March 2, the Department of Legislative Services (DLS) made several budget recommendations of interest to Johns Hopkins. DLS recommended eliminating the 0.3% assessment that used to fund the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP). Current statute dedicates that funding in future years to a reinsurance program for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange which has yet to be developed. Federal approval would be necessary to use the MHIP assessment for a reinsurance program. This action would provide $36 million in rate relief to hospitals and would save Maryland Medicaid $3 million.

DLS and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) both offered amendments to the budget that would give the HSCRC the flexibility necessary to achieve the $16.7 million that was budgeted for reductions in uncompensated care. Due to the all-payer system, the language as written in the budget would require the HSCRC to reduce rates by a significantly larger amount. Considering the support from DLS, DBM, and DHMH on this recommendation, the amended language will likely be adopted.

DLS also offered an amendment to make changes to the Medicaid deficit assessment. Currently, statute states that any savings to Medicaid as a result of the new waiver should be applied to offset the Medicaid deficit assessment. The initial calculation for this savings was approximately $14 million, however the budget as introduced applies that savings to the state general fund. The DLS recommendation would instead require a spend down plan of $20 million annually.

There was also a recommendation to delay funding for the E-Novation program for one year. This program provides state matching funds to the recruitment and retention of faculty at institutions of higher education. Johns Hopkins is working with leadership within the General Assembly to reject this recommendation.

These hearings are the current step in the much larger budget process and do not reflect official positions of the House of Delegates. The House is expected to make its budget decisions in the week of March 9.


New Deputy Secretary Selected for Maryland Medicaid
Shannon McMahon was selected as the new Deputy Secretary for Maryland Medicaid. Shannon has significant experience with the Maryland Medicaid program, first as Committee Counsel to the House Committee on Appropriations Health and Human Services subcommittee, then as Senior Budget and Policy Advisor, Office of the Secretary at Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Shannon most recently served as Director, Coverage and Access for the Center for Health Care Strategies. The Office of Government Affairs has already reached out to Shannon to develop a relationship.


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General Business
Higher Education/Financial Aid

BILLS INTRODUCED

General Business


SB863 Watershed Protection and Restoration Programs - Revisions

Repealing the requirement that a specified county or municipality adopt and implement local laws or ordinances necessary to establish a watershed protection and restoration program; authorizing a specified county or municipality to establish a specified program; authorizing the State or a unit of State government to be charged a stormwater remediation fee by a county under specified circumstances; requiring a specified county or municipality to file a specified financial assurance plan in accordance with specified requirements; etc.

Hearing Date: Tue 3/10 1:00 PM

Effective Date: July 1, 2015
For more information, please contact: Matt Greenwood

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Higher Education/Financial Aid


SB817/HB749 Higher Education - Sexual Assault Policies - Reporting

Requiring the governing boards of specified institutions of higher education to update and submit to the Maryland Higher Education Commission a specified written policy on sexual assault by August 1, 2016; requiring the sexual assault policy to include specified procedures; requiring a specified institution of higher education to include a specified notation on a specified student's academic transcript regarding a specified violation in specified circumstances; etc.

Hearing Date: Wed 3/18 1:00 PM

Effective Date: July 1, 2015
For more information, please contact: Matt Greenwood

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

Chelsea Beaupre [email protected]
Mickey Geisler [email protected]
Matt Greenwood [email protected]
Sheila Higdon [email protected]
Nicki McCann [email protected]
Patrick Murray [email protected]
Delora Sanchez [email protected]



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