2012 American Cancer Society Maryland End of Session Report

Maryland Sine Die Report
April 12, 2012

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned April 9, 2012

Tobacco Control:

• Prior to adjournment, the Revenue Conference Committee agreed to an increase in the little cigar tax of 70% of wholesale and the tax on all other tobacco products of 30% of wholesale (the tax on cigarettes to remain at $2.00 per package).  However, due to the Assembly adjourning without an agreement on the revenue package the tobacco tax increases are in limbo until the Governor calls a Special Session.  The Special Session is expected to take place before July 1, 2012 when the new state fiscal year begins.
• Legislation passed prohibiting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
• Legislation prohibiting smoking in cars with minors failed.
• The Tobacco Free Schools Act, prohibiting the use of tobacco products in school buildings, on school grounds, inside school buses, and at school-sponsored events failed.

Patient Services/Quality of Life:

• The Kathleen Mathais Oral Chemotherapy Parity Act of 2012 passed and has been signed by the Governor. This legislation prohibits insurance carriers from charging more for oral chemotherapy than infused chemotherapy.
• The legislation granting the Affordable Care Act Health Care Exchange Board authority to determine which insurance providers will be included in the Health Care Exchange passed and expected to be sign by the governor.
• The Lt. Governor's initiative legislation, funding of areas of the state experience disparities in health care delivery, passed.
• Legislation requiring the MD Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to post palliative care resource information on their website has failed. 
• The legislation extending until the end of December 31, 2014, the termination date of the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program passed.

Prevention:
• The Breast and Cervical Cancer Program, the local Cigarette Restitution Fund cancer programs, and the University CRF funded programs are all level funded. Tobacco control programs are funded at $6 million.
• The bills prohibiting minors 18 years of age and younger from using tanning salons failed.
• The legislation requiring school districts to expand physical education in elementary schools to 150 minutes per week failed.
• Legislation requiring the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the Department of the Environment, to convene a workgroup to examine issues relating to the investigation of potential cancer clusters in the State and potential environmental causes of cancer passed. 
• Legislation requesting the Congress of the United States to seek the withdrawal of the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommendations against prostate-specific-antigen (PSA) screening for prostate cancer failed.

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