Maryland Legislative Update

MD General Assembly Session ends on April 12. 

Budget- Funding for Cancer and Tobacco Control Programs: ACS lobbied House members of the budget conference committee to accept the senate CRF Tobacco Control Program language in the Senate Budget Reconciliation Finance Act (BRFA), and the Senate members of the budget conference committee to hold firm.  The conference committee agreed upon budgeting the tobacco control programs at $6M for the next two years then increases to $10M in the out years.  The reductions will be permanent. 

Funding for Cancer and Tobacco Control Program Bill- To counter the tobacco program permanent funding reduction language in the BRFA, American Cancer Society asked Delegate Rosenberg to sponsor legislation that would go before the policy committees so that we can have a forum for an open discussion about all the programs funded with Cigarette Restitution Funds (Cigarette Master Settlement).   The House committee gave this bill an unfavorable report.

Physical Education Facilities Bill-Our bill to require new or renovated schools to include dedicated space for physical education has been engrossed and will be forwarded on to the governor’s office for his signature.

Surgical Benefits for Mastectomies Bill: The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene submitted a bill, supported by ACS, expanding existing mastectomy insurance coverage to cover the cost of surgery and treatment on any physical complications of all stages of mastectomy including lymhedemas in a manner determined in consultation with the attending physician and patient.  Insurers are currently required to provide medical and surgical benefits in Maryland to provide coverage for reconstructive breast surgery, including coverage for all stages of reconstructive breast surgery performed on a nondiseased breast to establish symmetry with the diseased breast when reconstructive breast surgery is performed on the diseased breast. This bill has passed the Senate Finance committee, received a favorable report on the Senate floor and passed the House Health and Government Operations Committee with amendments.  The bill will go back to the Senate to receive concurrence on the agreement on final bill language before moving to the Governor for signature.

Thank you to everyone who assisted with advocacy efforts this session!