The Maryland House of
Delegates
Health and Government Operations Committee
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Chair
Government Operations Subcommittee
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House Chair
Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing
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Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review
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Minority Health Disparities Subcommittee
Dan K. Morhaim, M.D.
Deputy Majority Leader
11th Legislative District
Baltimore County
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AnnapolisOffice
The Maryland House of Delegates
6 Bladen Street , room 362
Annapolis , Maryland 21401
410-841-3054
1-800-492-7122 Ext.3054
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District Office
8 Park Center Court #100
Owings Mills , Maryland 2117-5609
410-581-8712
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Emaildan.morhaim@house.state.md.us
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Dear Friends,
Let me begin by thanking
everyone who contacted me expressing ideas and opinions on
legislation. We may not agree on every issue, but your
input shaped my perspective and votes. Your participation
is most appreciated.
It's always a challenge to
try to summarize the many actions of the Maryland General
Assembly. I will mention some high-profile issues only
briefly, but these already get extensive media coverage. I
will report on items of importance - complex issues or ones
for which there is broad consensus - that don't get
the media attention they deserve. These are the
legislative un-sung heroes.
Given the global and national
economic crisis, the State's budget took center stage.
As must happen each year, a balanced budget was
passed. This was done without raising taxes, but
extensive reductions were needed. The
budget is a complex document, and there were decisions made
that I supported and others I was against. However,
spending on key priorities such as education, public
safety, and health were maintained. My focus has been on
identifying efficiencies and streamlining government
operations, the best way to save money without raising
taxes or cutting programs.
I was fortunate to have 9
bills pass, a significant number for any session. All these
bills passed overwhelmingly, if not unanimously, with
bi-partisan support. I believe in working hard,
focusing on details, and building consensus. This takes
time and energy, but it is worth the effort.
(HB=House Bill; SB=Senate
Bill and information can be found at http://mlis.state.md.us/).
HB
70 eliminates obsolete
and redundant programs in the Department of Health. Many
citizens speak of reducing the size and waste in
government. This bill does it.
HB
91 promotes proper
restoration of historic state buildings.
HB
124 promotes
competition for state contracts, especially for new and
minority businesses.
HB
154 expands the role
of the Green Building Council. Buildings use 50% of the
energy and 50% of the water in the U.S., so smart
conservation approaches are particularly effective.
HB
456 facilitates use of
medicines for uncommon cancers.
HB
457 authorizes use of
web sites for certain printed government documents,
reducing needless paperwork.
HB
533 promotes
cooperative buying among state agencies, counties, and
schools. Collectively, these entities spend billions of
dollars, so even a 1% savings via bulk purchasing saves
millions. Additionally, Maryland non-profit
organizations have been hit hard, both with decreased
donations and increased demand for services. This bill lets
them 'piggyback' on to government purchases and save
money.
HB
610 expands the ways
health insurance companies can provide incentives for
wellness and injury prevention. This lowers costs by making
people healthier.
HB
674 takes a big step
to improve the small group insurance market, something that
has not been done since 1993. With 2-50 employees, these
groups are struggling with higher premiums, and the
competition to sell insurance has shrunk. These reforms
reduce rates, help more people get health insurance, and
lower costs to employees.
There are other important
enacted bills to know about.
Health:
As the only physician in the
141-member House of Delegates, I am increasingly concerned
about our health care system. I look forward to
comprehensive reforms, but steps were taken that support
patients and providers. I chair the legislature's
Biotechnology Caucus, an area where Maryland is uniquely
positioned to grow economically and help improve health and
the environment. The Biotech Caucus was instrumental in
keeping funding for research and the biotech tax credit
which supports new companies taking products to market,
keeping jobs in Maryland, and growing our economic
base.
HB 255/SB
380 helps providers
get paid by HMO's.
HB
405 updates
breast cancer screening rules.
HB 526/SB
646 expedites
provider credentialing by insurance companies.
HB 739/SB
952 increases funding
for addiction treatment programs; thus reducing healthcare
costs and crime because addictions are a major driver of
both. HB 1534/SB 1070
authorizes the Maryland
Insurance Commissioner to review the impact of possible
reductions of CareFirst assets by the District of
Columbia.
HB 422, HB
710/SB 802, HB 975/SB 591, HB 1451, HB 1457
help our military veterans
with health and financial support.
HB
706 encourages use of
electronic health records by providing financial rewards to
those who adopt these systems.
Environment: HB 595, HB
1290/SB 473, SB 621, HB 1363, HB 533/SB
609 are important
environmental bills. These reduce solid waste, promote use
of environmentally safe products, expand recycling,
and support alternative energy. Business: HB 124/SB
187, HB 389/SB 611, HB 471/SB 489, HB 641/SB 211
help new, small, minority and
woman owned businesses. As Chair of the Government
Operations Subcommittee, I was actively involved in the
passage of these bills. It's important to expand business
opportunities to all members of our
community. Education:
HB 587, HB
588, HB 306/SB 257 all
improve education.
Other key
issues were: death
penalty; driver's license ID's; speed cameras; keeping the
Preakness in Maryland. Each of these was settled with
compromise legislation that left proponents and opponents
equally unhappy, sometimes a sign that balance was
achieved.
I am honored to serve the
11th District of
northwest Baltimore County with my teammates Bobby Zirkin,
Jon Cardin, and Dana Stein. We share a common vision to
improve our community. Please contact each of us for
legislative scholarship information. Now, let me highlight
some of the 11th District team’s
accomplishments.
The 11th District Team secured funding for
important local projects: a generator for the Owings Mills
Jewish Community Center so it can be designated as an
emergency response center; the Hopewell Community, which
provides free cancer support services; and Sinai Hospital's
new pediatric center.
State Senator Bobby Zirkin worked hard on
the Budget and Tax Committee to help fashion a balanced
budget that kept our priorities funded, and he continues to
lead on juvenile justice and education issues.
Delegate Jon Cardin, on the
Ways and Means Committee, navigated HB 1179 "early voting"
through the legislature. Last November, nearly 75% of
voters approved the Constitutional Amendment to allow early
voting. Marylanders can now more readily
participate in our democracy.
Delegate Dana Stein serves on
the Environmental Matters Committee, and his
HB 547 eliminates the
deceptive practice, used in some auto ads, of advertising a
price that incorporates an amount for customer cash or
trade-in or rebates that buyers may not qualify for.
The Rosewood Center Hospital
will be closing this summer. Our community has made it
clear that it wants the property for public, institutional,
recreational, and open space with traffic directed away
from Garrison Forest Road. We look forward to Stevenson
University, the Irvine Nature Center, the Cardin School,
local officials, and neighborhood groups working together
to find the best, long-term use for this land. The
11th District Team has
been actively involved in coordinating this effort.
Last, I would like to thank
my terrific staff: Mary Lou Cole, Penny McDougal, Monique
Rucker, Keshia Pollack, Shannon Frattaroli, Tyler Cymet,
and David Goldsmith. They work long hours for little pay,
but their talent and commitment have no bounds.
Please stay in touch, and I
look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Delegate Dan Morhaim