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The Maryland General Assembly Special Session ended Monday November 19 with passage of two important health care related bills. One supports the enrollment over five years of more than 100,000 of our most underserved and currently uninsured Marylanders into Maryland Medicaid. The General Assembly also passed legislation that calls for a $1 a pack increase in the state's tobacco tax, which will go in part to fund the health care expansion. The revenues from this doubling of the tobacco tax will deter many Maryland teens from smoking, provide subsidies to small businesses to provide health insurance to their employees, and expand Medicaid eligibility to low income adults. The Maryland Women's Coalition for Health Care Reform worked hard during the Special Session to let our legislators know that Medicaid expansion and the tobacco tax increase were important to us. On your behalf, the Coalition's steering committee met with key legislators, submitted testimony, attended rallies and press conferences, and worked closely with our partners in Annapolis. Thanks go to you as Women's Coalition members for all the letters, phone calls, and emails you sent to make our vision of health care for all Marylanders closer to reality. Vinnie DeMarco, President of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, the leading health care reform group in Maryland, thanked the Women's Coalition for its active participation in laying a "foundation for Maryland to achieve our goal of quality, affordable health care for all Marylanders."
The Women's Coalition thanks Governor Martin O'Malley for his commitment to expanding access to health care to Maryland's most vulnerable residents. In addition, Speaker Mike Busch and Delegate Peter Hammen, Chairman of the House Health & Government Operations Committee deserve special thanks for the role they played in shepherding the legislation through the Special Session.
To take us closer to health care for all, the Women's Coalition's steering committee has identified the next step: We must provide health care to every child in Maryland who is eligible for coverage under existing programs, but who is not now enrolled. And now that legislation has passed covering low income parents, it will be much easier to enroll their children. The Women's Coalition's 2008 priority is:
128,000 children (out of a population of 1.4 million kids) are presently uninsured. Of these, 91,000 children are already eligible for existing programs, but are not enrolled. In the richest state in the nation this must not continue. It costs approximately $2,000 to cover each child, for a total of $200 million, half of which would be a federal dollar for dollar match. We will work with legislators in the General Assembly to win passage of legislation to enroll these children with improved eligibility and enrollment standards. And, we will see that kids stay enrolled.
We recognize that Maryland has many unmet needs. We believe, however, that few are as important as the health and well-being of all Marylanders and particularly our most vulnerable -- kids. Why do we test for math so that no child will be left behind, but we don't test for diabetes? And, why must any parent have to choose between milk and medicine? We can do better and make health care a basic, affordable right. We propose that health care reform be financed through means that not only raise revenues, but that do so in a way that encourages healthier lifestyles and reduces long-term health costs.
With a team of experts we are also researching other possible revenue sources to power health care expansion. We will include these in a White Paper on Covering All Kids that will be ready in January 2008. Look for it then. We will also share it with your legislators and urge them to fight for passage of legislation to Cover All Kids-100%!
How will the Women's Coalition achieve its goals for 2008? By working with YOU, our members, our partner organizations, and Maryland's elected officials to shape policy and gain passage of reform legislation to Cover All Kids-100%.
To do that, we need you!
The more voices we raise, the stronger we are - the greater our impact. How can you help? Join an advocacy team Member Action Advocacy Team (MAAT) - Teams will go to Annapolis during the General Assembly session to meet with key legislators. Our Legislative Action Team will lead these teams and provide resources and expertise. This is a great way to learn about and have a direct impact on the legislative process. Anyone can do this! No prior experience required. You just need to commit to being a health care reformer! Member Communications Advocacy Team (MCAT) - Legislators respond first to their own constituents. MCAT teams in key legislative district will contact their legislators when they receive an alert from the Women's Coalition. MCAT teams will receive legislators' contact information and talking points for each letter, email, or phone call they are asked to make. Being an MCAT member from your home or office is an easy way to help make health care reform happen in Maryland! Or, tell us why health care reform is important to you. Nothing has a greater impact than a first hand account of how the lack of access to health care made a difference to you or someone you know. Let us know if you will share your story with others.
Since the Women's Coalition was created just 18 months ago we have grown to over 160,000 members. We are an alliance of more than 40 diverse organizations, including major women's organizations throughout Maryland. We have an ambitious goal: We want our membership to match the number of uninsured and under-insured in the state - 1.6 million. So, we need you. By joining us you add your voice to those who are equally committed to providing access to health care in our state. We will keep you informed on what's happening with policy and legislation and let you know how you can help. And, it is free!
"National Congress on the Un and Under
Insured,"
Dec 9-12. Conference "Health Care Reform: What Women Want," Dec. 12 Briefing 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Featured Speaker Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners, presents polling data on women's perspective on health care reform. National Women's Law Center, 11 Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 800 , Washington , DC 20036 Register Questions: contact Dina Morad at 202-319-3024 Maryland Women's Legislative Briefing, Jan. 27. Briefing 12:30-5 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Irene Natividad, President, Global Summit of Women. Sponsored by the Montgomery County Commission For Women. National 4-H Conference Center , 7100 Conecticut Ave., Chevy Chase
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