Employee Benefits and Relations Archives

Career-Connected Learning Vital for High School Graduates Entering Job Market

A growing trend across the nation shows schools making significant efforts to connect students to potential career pathways. Recent studies show it soon might be the primary way to address the needs of an evolving job market and work force as fractures in candidate-company alignment continue to develop. Maryland, along with many other states, have invested millions to implement more robust programing to get students career-ready during high school. But a growing wave of misalignment…

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January 8, 2026

Employee Benefits and Relations / Information Technology

MD Launches Rebuilt Maryland.gov as State’s New Digital Front Door

Maryland has launched a rebuilt Maryland.gov designed to simplify how residents access state services and benefits. The new platform emphasizes accessibility and consistent navigation across agencies as part of a broader effort to modernize Maryland's digital infrastructure. Governor Moore announced the launch of a redesigned Maryland.gov, positioning the State’s website as a streamlined “digital front door” for accessing public benefits, services, and government resources. The new site reflects the administration’s broader effort to improve customer…

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January 7, 2026

2026 MACo Issue Previews / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources

2026 Issue Preview: Hospital Rate Setting and the AHEAD Model

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling major issues, including hospital rate setting in Maryland, that are likely to receive significant attention. Maryland has long stood apart in how it pays for and provides health care. Its unique all-payer system for setting hospital rates, improved through the state’s Total Cost of Care model, has kept costs down, led to better results, and garnered national attention as a model to follow. As previously covered…

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December 31, 2025

2026 MACo Issue Previews / Business Affairs / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Labor

2026 Issue Preview: Unemployment Insurance

With the 2026 Legislative Session approaching, MACo is profiling major issues, including unemployment insurance, that stand to garner significant attention. Maryland’s Unemployment Insurance system remains solvent for now, but projections show that stability may be short-lived. As previously covered in a MACo deep dive, the federal-state unemployment insurance (UI) system offers temporary financial support to individuals who have lost their jobs, helping to replace a portion of their income while they search for new employment.…

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December 26, 2025

County Budgets / County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Human Resources / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending

Prescription drug costs are no longer a back-office benefits issue for counties; they’re a frontline challenge shaping budgets, workforce retention, and long-term sustainability. Counties across Maryland are facing a familiar but intensifying challenge: how to sustain high-quality employee health benefits as prescription drug costs continue to climb. At MACo’s Winter Conference, the panel “Rx for Retention: County Strategies for Prescription Drug Spending” brought together county leaders, policy experts, and benefit consultants to unpack what’s driving…

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December 18, 2025

Business Affairs / County News / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues / State Budget and Fiscal Issues / Winter Conference

#MACoCon Recap: The State of Maryland’s Economy

Maryland’s economy is growing slightly, but mounting uncertainty around affordability, labor, and federal policy is reshaping what that growth really means for counties and communities. At MACo’s Winter Conference, economist Dr. Daraius Irani delivered a sobering but practical economic outlook during “Troubling Trends: The State of Maryland’s Economy,” offering county leaders a clear-eyed assessment of the forces shaping budgets and long-term planning decisions across the state. Amid growing uncertainty, Dr. Irani opened with a national…

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December 17, 2025

Business Affairs / Labor / Winter Conference

Troubling Trends: The State of Maryland’s Economy at #MACoCon

Maryland’s economy is shifting in ways that are already reshaping local budgets, services, and long-range priorities. Across Maryland, state and county leaders are confronting an economic landscape defined by uneven growth, demographic transitions, and persistent workforce pressures. At the same time, national trends, like rising interest rates, a cooling labor market, and slowdowns in key industries, are filtering down to the local level, affecting everything from hiring and retention to revenue reliability. Maryland’s unique mix…

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December 1, 2025

County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources / Winter Conference

Maryland Among States Working to Curb Soaring Rx Drug Prices

As federal action on prescription drug costs remains limited, states across the country are stepping in with new laws to make medications more affordable for residents. According to an article from Stateline, in 2025 alone, at least 31 states have enacted nearly 70 laws targeting various parts of the complex drug pricing system, from Pharmacy Benefit Managers to drug manufacturers. Prescription drug prices continue to rise, and local governments are increasingly footing the bill. Counties…

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November 10, 2025

Employee Benefits and Relations / Labor / NACo and Federal Issues

Governor Moore Expands State Support for Federal Workers

As the federal government shutdown continues, Maryland is taking steps to shield residents from its growing economic and household impacts. Governor Wes Moore has announced expanded state programs that provide relief and assistance to affected workers. Governor Wes Moore has announced new measures to assist Maryland federal workers affected by the ongoing federal government shutdown, which is now the longest in US history. The expanded support includes an additional round of no-interest loans for federal…

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November 10, 2025

Business Affairs / Economic Development / Labor / Winter Conference

Report Shows Maryland Trailing Region in Economic Outlook

Maryland’s declining economic rankings indicate deeper challenges that could impact jobs, local revenues, and long-term growth throughout the state. According to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, Maryland's latest national economic rankings indicate that the state is continuing to fall behind its neighbors, raising concerns about long-term growth and fiscal stability. These rankings, released by the American Legislative Exchange Council, highlight long-standing challenges tied to high business costs, regulatory hurdles, and a lack of pro-growth policies. From…

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November 4, 2025