Last month, Gov. Larry Hogan announced his final legislative decisions from the 2021 session. He let some bills become law without his signature, notably the Health Equity Resource Act and MHA’s other priority equity bills, as well as the Medical Debt Protection Act and Essential Workers Protection Act.

Gov. Hogan also vetoed the COVID-19 Testing, Contact Tracing, and Vaccination Act of 2021. That bill included a six-month extension of the outpatient facility fee disclosure law set to take effect July 1. MHA is convening a group of members to find ways to secure the extension to Jan. 1, 2022.
 
Maryland’s 2021 legislative action is now ended, but our work to advocate for your priorities continues year-round, in multiple settings.

For the interim, we will focus on implementing health equity bills we successfully promoted this year. That includes shaping the funding opportunity for Health Equity Resource Communities later this summer and driving the agenda for the new Maryland Commission on Health Equity.
 
Plus, we are already looking ahead to the 2022 session. MHA member work groups are coming together, and our Council on Legislative & Regulatory Policy will consider 2022 priorities at its July meeting.
 
We’re pleased that Gov. Hogan appointed Maulik Joshi, Dr.P.H., President and CEO of Meritus Health, to the Health Services Cost Review Commission. MHA backed Dr. Joshi’s candidacy energetically. In addition, MHA last week convinced HSCRC to halt plans to accelerate new reporting requirements for community benefit.

It continues to be our privilege to lead on your behalf, to shape health policy in Maryland for the better.

Bob Atlas
President & CEO