As introduced,  SB 314 would have authorized an insured individual to assign his or her benefit to a non-preferred provider, effectively allowing the non-preferred provider to bill the insurance carrier directly.  MACo expressed concern because this practice could have the unintended consequences of increasing administrative fees and eroding network discounts, especially for Health Management Organizations (HMO).   Many counties offer HMOs to keep costs down. The Maryland Insurance Administration offered and the Senate Finance Committee adopted…

MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield and Harford County Director of Personnel Scott Gibson offered opposing testimony to SB 1123. Currently to enact binding arbitration, a local jurisdiction may make the case to the General Assembly or secure passage of a charter amendment.  SB 1123 would authorize local jurisdictions to enact binding arbitration through a local law. Introduced in response to a recent Court of Special Appeals decision, this legislation has effects that are both broad…

In her beginning remarks, Delegate Cheryl Glenn stated that HB 1317, Public Investment Protection Act, was introduced as a draft to generate discussion during the session and to be sent to summer study.   This bill would require employers that receive as little as $250,000 in State economic development subsidies to pay employees in a broad range of employment areas (construction, building, food, grocery, and hotel) the higher of a federal prevailing wage, State prevailing wage,…

In testimony before the House Economic Matters Committee, MACo Associate Director Andrea Mansfield and Harford County Director of Human Resources Scott Gibson expressed concerns with legislation that would require counties to offer FMLA to employees with respect to the employee's brother, sister, grandparent, grandchild, domestic partner, or the child of a domestic partner. Ms. Mansfield testified that this expansion would significantly increase costs and negatively affect productivity, especially during difficult economic times.  This year alone,…