On February 20, Associate Policy Director Karrington Anderson submitted testimony before the Health and Government Operations Committee in support of HB 718 – Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission – Established with amendments.
This bill establishes the Maryland Health Insurance Coverage Protection Commission to monitor and assess the effects of potential and actual federal changes to healthcare programs and provide recommendations for state and local actions to protect residents’ access to affordable health coverage.
Local governments are directly involved in public health efforts, social services, and local health initiatives that affect residents’ access to care. As such, MACo supports the Commission’s establishment and its role in analyzing federal developments and proposing state and local responses.
Given the potential for the Commission’s recommendations to affect local health systems and services, MACo requests an amendment to ensure counties have a formal role in this effort. Specifically, MACo recommends the inclusion of a county representative, nominated by MACo, as an appointee to the Commission, if its charge includes developing recommendations that affect local governments.
HB 718 was heard in the opposite chamber, the Finance Committee, on March 27. MACo submitted written testimony in support of this bill with amendments.
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