Issue Position: Healthcare

Issue Position

As a husband and a father of four, Governor O'Malley understands the importance of making healthcare more affordable and accessible for Maryland's families, seniors and small businesses.

Today, because of Governor O'Malley's leadership, the State of Maryland has added more than 200,000 individuals -- including 100,000 children -- to those who have access to healthcare in our State. Currently, the State of Maryland provides healthcare to 837,000 Marylanders.

During his first term in office, Governor O'Malley worked with key stakeholders to make sure our most vulnerable citizens have access to healthcare. Governor O'Malley worked to expand healthcare coverage to our children, including dental care. He created an innovative partnership to allow small businesses to provide healthcare to their employees and reduced prescription costs for our seniors by working to close the donut hole. Governor O'Malley also signed legislation prohibiting health insurance companies from increasing premiums more frequently than once a year.

While significant progress has been made, Governor O'Malley will not rest until every Marylander has access to affordable and quality healthcare.

Bob Ehrlich: Cutting Healthcare For Families

While in office, Bob Ehrlich vetoed legislation to provide more uninsured Marylanders with healthcare coverage and even attempted to cut 4,000 children and pregnant women from Maryland's Healthcare Program.

Bob Ehrlich has pledged that if returned to office, he will reject federal funds for health coverage and dramatically scale back the numbers of families and children covered by Medicaid.
O'Malley-Brown: Delivering Results

Access to Quality Care

* Under Governor O'Malley, the State of Maryland is providing quality healthcare to more than 837,000 Marylanders.

* Over 200,000 Marylanders who were previously uninsured now have access to healthcare, including 100,000 children.

Healthcare for Working Families and Small Businesses

* Governor O'Malley worked with members of the General Assembly and key stakeholders to pass the Working Families and Small Business Health Coverage Act. In 2008, Governor O'Malley launched a highly successful program to partner with State agencies, health insurers and small businesses to expand health insurance benefits to more Maryland families.

* Under Governor O'Malley, parents with incomes of up to $20,500 for a family of three, or 116% of the federal poverty level are now eligible for healthcare through Medicaid.

Prescription Drugs for Seniors

* Even before legislation passed at the federal level, Governor O'Malley launched a highly successful public-private partnership to close the Donut Hole in Maryland to make sure our seniors could afford prescription drugs.

Reducing Fraud, Waste and Abuse

* Lt. Governor Brown championed legislation aimed at protecting the state against false Medicaid claims and enabling the state to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse, and recovering damages and penalties from individuals, groups and providers who defraud the state by filing false claims. Governor O'Malley signed the new legislation into law this year.

Cost Savings Through Reform

* Federal reforms signed by President Obama build upon progress already made in Maryland over the last three years.

* Maryland already allows young adults to remain on their families' health plan until age 25. Federal reforms extend this to age 26. Governor O'Malley championed an innovative program called the Maryland Health Insurance Partnership in 2008, which partners state government with health insurers and small businesses to lower premiums and expand healthcare to more Marylanders. To date, 314 businesses have enrolled in the program insuring up to 1,487 individuals.

* Because of reforms already in place in Maryland, it is estimated that federal reforms will save the State of Maryland approximately one billion dollars over the next ten years, helping us maintain fiscal responsibility.

* Governor O'Malley has set a goal to establish the nation's best statewide health information exchange and electronic health records adoption by the end of 2012.

Dental Care for All Children

* Governor O'Malley helped to establish the Deamonte Driver Project to expand access to dental care for more Maryland children than ever before.

Investing in Our Infants and Toddlers

* Believing in the dignity of every individual, Governor O'Malley increased spending for Maryland's Infants and Toddlers Program to $10.4 million in 2009. The MITP supported local programs serving nearly 14,000 children with developmental issues such as speech delays, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, and Autism. Because of this much needed funding, there has been a 50% increase in the number of children receiving early intervention services since 2003.

* Governor O'Malley has set a goal to reduce infant mortality in Maryland 10% by the end of 2015.

Healthcare for Our Veterans

* The State of Maryland is committed to providing healthcare services to veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. To date, Governor O'Malley has allocated more than $4.4 million for behavioral health services for returning veterans. Last year, the program was expanded to serve all veterans.

Providing Substance Abuse Services

* Governor O'Malley recognizes the great hardship that substance abuse puts on both the individual and their families. That is why he has set a goal to expand access to substance abuse services in Maryland 25% by the end of 2012.

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