The session began with bold predictions of major health care access expansion legislation being enacted. However, General Assembly action during the past week has seen both the Governor’s and the House leadership’s bills significantly scaled back. Here are the House and Senate positions:

House: The House of Delegates has passed Chairman Pete Hammen’s bill (HB 754), which still includes a significant Medicaid expansion funded by a $1 per pack cigarette tax increase. Included in the bill are a scaled back hospital assessment, inclusion of adult dependent children on parents’ health insurance policies to age 25, and many studies. Out of the bill are wellness initiatives (moved to HB 339), the mandatory offer by employers of a Section 125 plan, insurance subsidies to individuals and employers, and the individual health insurance mandate for high wage earners (moved to a study in HB 572).

Senate: The Senate Finance Committee has approved the Governor’s health care access bill (SB 149) with the bill covering the inclusion of adult dependent children on parents’ health insurance policies to age 25, wellness initiatives and many studies. Committee amendments removed any Medicaid expansion, and the mandatory offer by employers of a Section 125 plan.

Stay tuned over the next three weeks. Contact Ron Wineholt for further information at rwineholt@mdchamber.org .