health care expansion: closing the gap of health disparities peter a. hammen house of delegates,...

Health Care Expansion: Closing Health Care Expansion: Closing the Gap of Health Disparitiesthe Gap of Health Disparities

Peter A. HammenPeter A. HammenHouse of Delegates, District 46House of Delegates, District 46

Maryland General AssemblyMaryland General AssemblyChairman, Health and Government Chairman, Health and Government

Operations CommitteeOperations Committee

7th National Conference on Quality Health Care for Culturally Diverse Populations

Baltimore, MarylandOctober 21, 2010

Recent Successes

• SB 6 (2007 Special Session)– Expanded Medicaid to 116% of the Federal

Poverty Level for parents– Phase in of the expansion of Medicaid to childless

adults has been delayed due to budget constraints– As of today, over 150,000 people have health

insurance as a result of this expansion

Recent Successes

• HB 739 (2009)– Added substance abuse benefits to the Primary

Adult Care Program, a program that provides primary care, prescription drugs, and specialty mental health treatment to childless adults under 116% of the Federal Poverty Level

– Existing resources already in the system were redirected to fund this expansion

– Over 40,000 people now have access to substance abuse treatment

Moving Forward

• Health Reform at the National Level– Expands Medicaid to 133% of the Federal Poverty

Level– No longer allowed to exclude for pre-existing

conditions– Health insurance tax credits for the uninsured and

assistance for small businesses

Implementation in Maryland

• Health Reform Coordinating Council– Appointed to represent the House of Delegates– Tasked with implementing the federal legislation

in Maryland• Special needs and safety net populations– As part of this effort, I have asked for a report on

the various safety net programs available, how they overlap, and where there are gaps

– The intention is to ensure that gaps are closed and access to quality care is provided to all

Contact Information

Delegate Peter A. HammenMaryland General Assembly6 Bladen Street, Room 241Annapolis, MD 21401

(410) 841-3772(410) 631-7900peter.hammen@house.state.md.us