Healthcare

There are few things more important to Marylanders than the ability to care for their families and loved ones, and having access to affordable, high-quality health care is pivotal in those efforts. Maryland is very fortunate to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world. Still, far too many families are forced to choose between being able to pay for health insurance and paying for life’s other necessities.

This is a daily struggle for too many Marylanders, and Governor Hogan is committed to improving this situation. In response to these realities, the governor is a tireless advocate for Marylanders fighting against changes at the federal level that would harm citizens. He is working to ensure Maryland continues to lead the way on innovation in the health care sector on the state level.

Throughout the debate over the future of the Affordable Care Act, Governor Hogan repeatedly voiced his opposition to any changes by Congress and the Trump administration that would jeopardize Marylanders’ access to quality health care. That’s why he is actively partnering with other state leaders across the country committed to making health care more affordable.

As the health care debate intensified in Washington, the governor summoned Maryland’s federal delegation to Annapolis to discuss the issue and urged them to work on common sense, bipartisan solutions to protect residents across the state. The governor made it clear that if real progress was to be achieved, it would require cooperation on all sides - not the partisan bickering that dominates Washington politics. He asked Congress to work together to protect Marylanders from losing their coverage, and to pursue the policy ideas that would make healthcare more affordable for the average family.

Since then, the governor continues to lead on health care, pushing for federal and state leaders to work together. He repeatedly joined with a bipartisan group of 10 governors to call on Congress and the Trump administration to work in an open, bipartisan manner to stabilize our health insurance markets. When subsidies that help low-income individuals purchase health care were cut, Governor Hogan was a leading voice urging the federal government to restore this vital funding.

In addition to fighting to make health care more accessible and more affordable, Governor Hogan also urged Congress to reauthorize funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). As the governor explained, the 146,000+ children in Maryland covered under CHIP should never be a political football.

Due to many years of political dysfunction and failure by national leaders in Washington, health insurance rates, especially in the individual market, skyrocketed over the last decade. In the coming year, rates were predicted to increase in Maryland by 50 percent or more, potentially causing a catastrophic breakdown of our state insurance market. Governor Hogan immediately established an executive negotiating team to work in a bipartisan fashion with the General Assembly to pass and enact legislation stabilizing our insurance market and keeping premiums down.

Due to the governor’s leadership and willingness to partner with the General Assembly, landmark legislation was passed that protects Marylanders’ health care options and stabilizes insurance rates.

Governor Hogan also announced the approval of the unique and innovative Maryland Model contract, which improves health outcomes and controls health costs. As a result of the Maryland Model, a total of $1 billion in savings is expected to be provided over five years.

Under Governor Hogan’s leadership, Maryland became the third state in the nation granted a waiver from the federal government to expand and make substance-use disorder treatment options more accessible. This expansion allows certain Medicaid-eligible adults to pay for 30-day treatment stays in large residential treatment centers known as Institutes for Mental Disease. Currently, there are more than 35 providers enrolled in the Maryland Institute for Mental Disease program and more than 1,500 beds available to help those with opioid-related substance-use disorders.

In December 2017, the State of Maryland secured a victory when the Center for Medicare & Medicaid services announced awards for Home Visiting Services and Assistance in Community Integration pilot programs. For the first time, Medicaid-matching funds will be available for these pilot programs established in Cecil, Harford, and Montgomery Counties, as well as Baltimore City. The pilot programs provide expanded services for new mothers and children, as well as those who are at risk of becoming homeless due to chronic health conditions.

The Hogan administration is working tirelessly to expand health care services for individuals with developmental disabilities. Within the past year, the governor’s bold actions will enable 800 additional Marylanders access to critical services. Federal approval of Maryland’s Family Supports Waiver is expected to reduce the waiting list and provide services more efficiently to 400 individuals. Additionally, the state was approved for a Community Supports Waiver, which expands community-based service options to individuals with disabilities who are on the Developmental Disabilities Administration’s waiting list.

As a recent survivor of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and knowing cancer is the second leading cause of death in the state, the Governor is increasing Maryland’s investment in cancer-fighting programs and policies supported by the State. Since taking office, Governor Hogan invested over $160 million in state funding toward cancer research, care, and initiatives - an increase of more than 14 percent over the O’Malley administration. In 2016, the Governor directed the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan (MCCP) to ensure that Maryland’s approach to fighting this disease is more comprehensive and wide-ranging. The MCCP was developed by more than 80 stakeholders, and encourages collaboration into treating and supporting victims of this deadly disease.

Since being diagnosed with cancer in 2015, the Governor became an active participant in raising awareness for those fighting this disease - often visiting with patients in hospitals across the state, and with childhood cancer patients at the Ronald McDonald House and through the Cool Kids Campaign.

Governor Hogan remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure Marylanders’ health care options are not only protected but made more accessible and more affordable.