Maryland Governor Announces Health Care Reform Coordinating Council

Maryland Governor Announces Health Care Reform Coordinating Council

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley held a news conference today at Anne Arundel Medical Center to announce the formation of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council to advise his administration on policies and procedures regarding the recent and future federal health care reform legislation.

“Individual states will be the drivers of health care reform, and we want Maryland to continue to be a health care leader,” said Gov. O’Malley, whose administration in 2007 expanded Medicaid access for low-income Maryland residents.  “With the support of the federal government, we will expand care to hundreds of thousands of Marylanders.”

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced the formation of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council at a news conference held at Anne Arundel Medical Center. From left are Maryland Speaker of the House Mike Busch, Maryland Secretary the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene John Colmers, and Anne Arundel Health System CEO Martin L. “Chip” Doordan.)

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley announced the formation of the Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council at a news conference held at Anne Arundel Medical Center. From left are Maryland Speaker of the House Mike Busch, Maryland Secretary the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene John Colmers, and Anne Arundel Health System CEO Martin L. “Chip” Doordan.)

With the medical center as the backdrop, O’Malley credited President Obama for helping the country take “a giant step forward,” and the federal government with providing the support each state will need in making health reform a reality.  He also noted that each state should take control of implementing reform that will help control health care costs while expanding coverage to residents who have been living without health insurance.

Anne Arundel Health System CEO Martin L. “Chip” Doordan welcomed the governor, as well as Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, Maryland’s Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene John Colmers and Anne Arundel County Deputy Secretary of Health Frances Phillip, and House Speaker Mike Busch in his opening remarks.

“Health care reform is on everyone’s mind,” said Doordan.  “It affects all of us. Rest assured it will affect this hospital as well.” Doordan noted that the medical center is nearing completion of an expansion that will nearly double the size of the emergency department, and will include a pediatric emergency department and inpatient unit.

Following the news conference, Doordan, AAHS President and COO Victoria W. “Tori” Bayless, and clinical director of nursing Carol Lacher led O’Malley on a tour of the hospital’s Level IIIB Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

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