Maryland’s Medicaid Expansion Surpasses Projections

Maryland’s new Medicaid enrollees under President Barack Obama’s health care law have surpassed initial projections, though state analysts say Maryland is actually spending less on its Medicaid population because federal health care reform is covering 100,000 people who used to get health care paid entirely by the state, Baltimore Sun reports. 

As reported,

The projected newly eligible enrollment for fiscal year 2015 initially was 164,724 in Maryland. The initial estimated cost was about $31 million for fiscal year 2017, when states begin paying their share.

The actual enrollment for fiscal year 2015 ended up being about 220,442, with an estimated cost of about $54 million in fiscal year 2017. Maryland is currently in the process of setting rates for managed care organizations for calendar 2016, so the projected $54 million cost could change again later this year.

However, about 100,000 people who were covered entirely at state expense under the state’s Primary Adult Care program are now covered by Medicaid with shared state and federal costs. Also, people who once received health care through PAC receive added benefits under the full range of Medicaid.

For more information on enrollment numbers in Maryland, read the whole story from the Baltimore Sun.

MACo’s Summer Conference will also feature a session on federal grant funding of Medicaid and other health and human services programs. Tapping Grant Opportunities to Meet Community Needs will feature speakers Merril E. Oliver, Director, Maryland Governor’s Grants Office, Greg James, Deputy Secretary, Department of Human Resources, and Elizabeth Weglein, President, United Seniors of Maryland in a discussion about how to access this federal grant funding. The Honorable Thomas (Mac) Middleton, Chair, Finance Committee, Maryland Senate will moderate the panel discussion and facilitate questions from the audience.

Learn more about MACo’s Summer Conference:

Questions? Contact Meetings & Events Director Virginia White.