Maryland Gov. O’Malley Budget Proposal Includes Cuts for Medicaid, Health Department
Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) on Wednesday announced a $15.2 billion fiscal year 2009 budget proposal, which includes nearly $125 million to implement legislation to expand subsidized health coverage, the Washington Post reports (Wagner, Washington Post, 1/17).
According to the Baltimore Sun, the state faces a projected $1.7 billion structural budget deficit for FY 2009, and O'Malley on Wednesday said funding for a Medicaid expansion and other programs would not be available if voters in November do not approve a slot machine referendum.
O'Malley's budget also includes $3.5 million to establish a new program for behavioral health services for veterans in rural areas and to provide money for public safety initiatives, including $3 million to expand HIV screening and treatment of prison inmates (Smitherman, Baltimore Sun, 1/17). In addition, the governor has proposed $8.8 million to expand graduate nursing programs in the state (Washington Post, 1/17). He also included funding for programs that improve children's access to dentists.
The budget proposal includes $68 million in cuts to Medicaid, which is possible because of lower-than-expected enrollment in the program, according to state Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers. Colmers said, "Nobody's getting cut from services," adding, "We feel this just makes sense" (Washington Post, 1/17). O'Malley also proposed reducing retiree health care expenses (Baltimore Sun, 1/17).
