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Home | Category: Health CareJune 13, 2008Legislative Committees Set Interim Agendas
General Assembly committees have released agendas for their 2008 interim activities that include several issues of interest to business. The House Health and Government Operations Committee will receive briefings on... More»
May 29, 2008Small Employer Health Subsidy Detailed
The Maryland Health Care Commission met last Friday with representatives from business organizations to offer more details on the rollout this fall of the small employer health insurance subsidy. The... More»
May 16, 2008Health Care Links for 5/16/08
Here are some health care related links I came across this week: What’s Going on in Maryland As a state panel on health care quality and costs meets for the... More»
April 17, 2008Small Employer Wellness Regulations Published
Regulations were published last week that will implement the wellness component of health care initiatives passed as Senate Bill 6 of the 2007 special session of the General Assembly. Two... More»
March 24, 2008Maryland Chamber to Present Health Insurance Forums
Insurance premiums are rising drastically each year, and most traditional plans are providing no cash value for your investment. There are alternatives on the market for small employer groups to... More»
December 17, 2007Maryland Chamber's 2008 Business Agenda
The Maryland Chamber’s Board of Directors recently approved its 2008 Business Agenda. Priorities for the 2008 General Assembly session include: Repealing the hastily adopted sales tax on computer services. Revising... More»
December 4, 2007Health Care Commission Offers Free Consumer Guide
The Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC) recently released its 11th annual Measuring the Quality of Maryland HMOs and POS Plans: 2007/2008 Performance Report. You can download the entire report here.... More»
October 22, 2007Election 2008: Compare Candidate Health Care Positions
I came across the Kaiser Family Foundation’s health08.org website today, via this Wall Street Journal article. The site is part of a broad effort by the Kaiser Family Foundation to... More»
August 22, 2007Report Summarizes State Health Reform Initiatives
As studies continue in Maryland regarding the next steps for health care reform, many will look to actions taken by other states. A recent report by the National Governor’s Association... More»
June 15, 2007Chamber Promotes Health Care Affordability Agenda
Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Ron Wineholt submitted testimony yesterday to the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. The committee, co-chaired by Se. Rob Garagiola (D-Dist.... More»
June 2, 2007Small Group Participants Decline
The number of participants in Maryland’s small group health insurance plan declined by 18,419 individuals (-4 percent) in 2006, according to a survey of health insurance carriers released recently by... More»
May 30, 2007Health Care Expansion Push Continues
Key state legislators have called for significant new revenues to be earmarked for state health care expansion, either during a special session this fall or during the 2008 General Assembly... More»
May 22, 2007NFIB Health Care survey
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) released the results of its Small Business Health-Care Survey yesterday. You can download the executive summary, and the complete results, here. “Once again... More»
April 17, 2007Maryland Will Not Appeal Wal-Mart Bill Ruling
Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler yesterday announced that the State would not appeal a federal court decision striking down Maryland’s “Fair Shair” Health Care Act on the grounds that... More»
April 11, 20072007 Session Recap
We’ve posted a preliminary recap of the session. We’ll expand on it later this week.... More»
March 22, 2007So Much for "The Year of Health Care Reform"
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... More»
March 12, 2007News & Notes for March 12, 2007
Health reform bill scaled backLegislators abandoned plans to give small-business subsidies to provide insurance to workers, and they eliminated a provision that would have required that higher-income individuals and families... More»
February 16, 2007House Health Care Expansion Bills
Today, the House Health and Government Operations Committee will hear a number of bills aimed at increasing access to health care. Two of the main bills up for debate are... More»
February 5, 2007Reminder: Health Care Webconference on Feb. 8
Just a quick reminder that this Thursday, Feb. 8, Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Ron Wineholt will discuss the Chamber’s health care priorities and the health care proposals under... More»
January 24, 2007Free Webconference: Learn More About Health Care Priorities
Learn more about the Chamber’s health care priorities and the health care proposals under consideration by the General Assembly by participating in a Chamber Webconference on February 8 at 10... More»
January 11, 2007News & Notes for January 11, 2007
Curtain rises on ‘07 sessionIn addressing the House, Busch announced a broad legislative agenda that includes more money for school construction, an effort to expand health care coverage to at... More»
January 10, 2007Maryland Chamber on WYPR
Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Ron Wineholt joined Sheilah Kast on WYPR’s Maryland Morning to discuss health care issues likely to be debated during the legislative session. Click... More»
January 9, 2007News & Notes for January 9, 2007
Maryland lawmakers plan study of state tax structureWhat was talked about then - and now - is a restructuring that takes into account the fact that Maryland’s service sector has... More»
January 5, 2007News & Notes for January 5, 2007
Without partisan issues, how will session shape up? O’Malley has hesitated to take any concrete positions on specific issues, including the projected budget shortfall in future years, but business leaders... More»
November 10, 2006Health Savings Accounts - ERISA Q&A
The U.S. Department of Labor recently issued a Field Assistance Bulletin to provide guidance concerning the treatment of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).... More»
October 23, 20062007 Business Agenda Released
During last week’s meeting of the Maryland Chamber’s Board of Directors, the Board adopted the Chamber’s 2007 Business Agenda. The agenda outlines the Chamber’s priorities for the coming year and... More»
October 5, 2006Tune in to WYPR Today at Noon
The health care debate continues. Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs will be on the Marc Steiner show today from Noon to 1 p.m. to discuss health care policy.... More»
September 28, 2006Health Care Costs Rise Twice as Fast as Inflation and Wages
Premiums for employer-sponsored health coverage rose an average 7.7 percent in 2006, according to the 2006 Employer Health Benefits Survey released this week by the Kaiser Family Foundation and... More»
September 26, 2006Massachusetts Health Care Reform Law Questioned
The State of Massachusetts took a bold step earlier this year when it enacted a “play or pay” health insurance reform law. The law generated a lot of headlines. It... More»
September 8, 2006Chamber Outlines Health Care Agenda
Maryland Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Ron Wineholt testified before the Task Force on Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care last week. The Task Force was established... More»
August 22, 2006State Health Care Task Force to Meet August 30
The Joint Legislative Task Force on Universal Access to Quality and Affordable Health Care will meet at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, August 30 at Maryland Health Care Commission headquarters in... More»
August 3, 2006Chamber Addresses Wal-Mart Bill in Letter to the Editor
Today’s Baltimore Sun featured the following letter to the editor from Maryland Chamber Chairman Terry Neimeyer, Chairman and CEO of KCI Technologies. It’s time to bury the Wal-Mart law Now... More»
July 21, 2006Only in the Baltimore Sun
Headline: Wal-Mart bill is celebrated, despite ruling... More»
July 19, 2006Federal Court Strikes Down Wal-Mart Bill
A federal judge today ruled that Maryland’s Fair Share Health Care Act, also known as the Wal-Mart bill, violates the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Download the opinion... More»
July 11, 2006Sweeping the Nation or Swept Under the Rug?
Back in February, the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer ran a piece in which Maryland Health Care for All President Vincent DeMarco said, “fair share health care is sweeping the nation.”... More»
May 19, 2006Health Care Reform: What's Next?
Health care reform remains a top Maryland Chamber priority. A passage from this health care story in today's Daily Record caught my attention: "But in reality, the Massachusetts plan leaves... More»
May 4, 2006New Legislature Likely to Focus on Health Care
When the 2007 General Assembly convenes in January, the cost and availability of health insurance in Maryland will be a major topic. In today’s Baltimore Examiner, Maryland Insurance Commissioner Steven... More»
May 2, 2006Senate to Consider Small Business Health Plan
After remaining deadlocked over Small Business Health Plans for seven years, the U.S. Senate will finally consider a compromise bill that addresses many of the concerns that stood in the... More»
April 12, 2006Highlights and Lowlights of the 2006 General Assembly Session
The Chamber took positions on 169 bills this session. Click here for the highlights and lowlights. Related info: The Gazette: Annapolis ’06: A collapse at the wire Assembly minds business... More»
March 21, 2006How They Voted: "Son of Wal-Mart" Bill
The House Health and Government Operations Committee voted to kill HB 1510, Public-Private Partnership for Health Coverage for All Marylanders. This is the legislation that would have applied the “Wal-Mart... More»
March 20, 2006The "Son of Wal-Mart" Bill Voted Down in Committee
The House Health and Government Operations Committee today voted to kill HB 1510, Public-Private Partnership for Health Coverage for All Marylanders. This is the legislation that would have applied the... More»
March 17, 2006Chamber files Amicus Brief In Support of Lawsuit Challenging Maryland's "Fair Share" Health Act
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce today filed an amicus brief in support of the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s lawsuit against the State of Maryland on the grounds that the Fair... More»
March 16, 2006All Fired Up With No Place to Go
At the last minute, the House Health and Government Operations Committee decided to make the hearing for HB 1510 “sponsor-only.” This bill would extend the “Wal-Mart Bill” payroll tax to... More»
U.S. Senate Committee Approves Small Business Health Plans Legislation
From the Washington Post: “Legislation approved by Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee would allow small companies to join together, based on their membership in a particular trade association,... More»
March 15, 2006MPT to Air Documentary Addressing Medical Liability Insurance Crisis on March 21
Next Tuesday, March 21 at 8 p.m., Maryland Public Television will air “If the Bough Breaks,” an educational documentary that tells the story of Maryland’s medical liability insurance crisis. The... More»
March 14, 2006Chamber Urges Medical Liability Reform
The Maryland Chamber today will urge the House Judiciary Committee to enact medical liability reform. The reforms enacted by the General Assembly during the 2004 special session were a stop-gap... More»
March 2, 2006Wal-Mart Bill: First Step Toward Universal Health Care in Maryland
Yesterday, I mentioned this item from the Wall Street Journal. After re-reading it, I thought it was worth mentioning again. If you think the Wall Mart Bill doesn’t impact your... More»
March 1, 2006Chamber Supports Consumer Driven Health Care
The Senate Finance Committee today will hear SB 530, the Consumer Health Open Insurance Coverage Act of 2006, sponsored by Sen. E.J. Pipkin (R-Dist. 36). This legislation would create the... More»
February 17, 2006Legislation Introduced to Extend Payroll Tax to All Employers
Last session, the Chamber repeatedly warned that the “Wal-Mart Bill” sets a dangerous precedent, and that the bill serves as the framework for the certain expansion of this health care... More»
Chamber Supports Medical Liability Reforms
The Maryland Chamber strongly supports the Administration’s medical liability reform bill (SB 229/HB 306), which would make several tort reforms for medical liability cases, including: Setting a limit of $500,000... More»
February 14, 2006In Washington, “Fair Share” Would be 9 Percent
Washington’s state legislature is considering “Fair Share” legislation similar to the law recently enacted in Maryland. Their “fair share” would be 9 percent of payroll and the bill would impact... More»
Association Health Plan Bill Defeated in Committee
HB 176, Health Insurance - Maryland Association Health Plan Act, was defeated in the House Health and Government Operations Committee by a vote of 19 to 4. This bill would... More»
February 8, 2006Wal-Mart Bill Lawsuit Links
Here are a few resource and news links regarding yesterday’s announcement that the Retail Industry Leaders Association filed a legal challenge to Maryland’s “Fair Share” Health Care Act in U.S.... More»
February 7, 2006Retail Group Files Suit Over Maryland's "Fair Share" Bill
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) today filed a legal challenge to Maryland’s “Fair Share” Health Care Act and a similar law in Suffolk County, New York. The lawsuits were... More»
January 25, 2006Stem Cell Funding Hearings Held Today
Key committees in the Senate and House held hearings today on the issue of funding for stem cell research. For more on the hearings, read this story from the Baltimore... More»
January 19, 2006"Fair Share" Editorial and Op-Ed Roundup
The Kaiser Family Foundation recently posted a summary of a number of editorials and op-eds addressing the Maryland General Assembly’s override of the Governor’s veto of the Fair Share Health... More»
January 13, 2006Fair Share Override is National News
I don’t think these are the kind of headlines the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development are looking for: Maryland Votes To Override Veto Of Wal-Mart Bill Wall Street... More»
January 12, 2006House Overrides Fair Share Veto 88-50
The Maryland House of Delegates tonight voted to override the Governor’s veto of the Fair Share Health Care Act 88-50. I will post the roll call Friday morning. For Chamber... More»
Senate Overrides "Fair Share" Veto
The Maryland Senate voted to override Governor Ehrlich’s veto of the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act 30-17. The House of Delegates is scheduled to consider the override during a... More»
Another Fair Share Link
An op-ed from today’s Baltimore Sun. “Attacking real or imagined health care villains, though sometimes necessary and always fun, will not make health care more affordable today or tomorrow unless... More»
Today's Washington Post Editorial
An editorial in today’s Washington Post makes a really well reasoned case for sustaining the Governor’s veto of the “Fair Share” bill. This is the second time a Post editorial... More»
January 11, 2006Fair Share Bill Featured in Financial Times
Today’s Financial Times features a story on the veto override fight taking place this week in the Maryland General Assembly. This is clearly a national story, and Maryland’s business reputation... More»
General Assembly Convenes Today
The 2006 General Assembly Session kicks off today. The Chamber’s top priorities for the next 90 days include: Sustaining the Governor’s vetoes of the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act... More»
January 10, 2006U.S. Chamber Chimes in on the "Fair Share" Bill
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce joined the Maryland Chamber in urging Maryland legislators to sustain the Governor’s veto of the “Fair Share” Health Care Fund Act, calling it a “dangerous... More»
Gov. Ehrlich Discusses "Fair Share" Veto on WBAL Radio
Governor Ehrlich discussed the “Fair Share” Health Care veto override fight on WBAL Radio this morning. He said he expects a close vote in the Maryland House of Delegates. You... More»
Five Reasons the "Fair Share" Veto Should be Sustained
The Maryland General Assembly is expected to attempt to override Governor Ehrlich’s veto of the Fair Share Health Care Fund Act later this week. We expect it to be a... More»
January 3, 2006Chamber Challenges “Fair Share” Health Bill
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce today challenged the legality of the Fair Share Health Care Act. According to a legal opinion issued by a labor law expert, efforts to enact... More»
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