MACo Executive Director Michael Sanderson submitted testimony today to the House Health and Government Operations Committee in support of HB 463 Maryland Health Equity Resources Act. This bill creates a framework to reduce health service inequities across Maryland.

From the MACo Testimony:

HB 463 sets forth just such a plan. Identifying communities of concern and need – in the bill “Health Equity Resource Communities” – is a critical step toward better serving those areas. The model in HB 463 has a structural parallel to Maryland’s Enterprise Zone program, but rather than targeting
economic distress, it targets health disparities. Creating incentives for health care practitioners to locate
in these areas, and hopefully embed into these communities, provides hope for a turnaround in the
health outcomes gap.

County governments, and local health departments, are among the substantial list of stakeholders in
the processes envisioned under the bill, but its long-term oversight and success will depend on that
wide range of contributors to remain committed to these difficult tasks. Counties are eager to play their
role in moving forward and bridging the gap in health care access and outcomes for all our residents.

Follow MACo’s advocacy efforts during the 2021 legislative session on MACo’s Legislative Tracking Database.