Governor O'Malley Signs Legislation to Support our State Veterans and Improve Public Health
O’Malley Signs Veterans Health Bills, Prince George’s Hospital Center Bill, Donut Hole Legislation
ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 22, 2008) – Looking forward to Memorial Day weekend, Governor Martin O’Malley today joined Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr., House Speaker Michael E. Busch, and Lieutenant Governor Anthony G. Brown, to sign legislation that improves support services for thousands of Maryland veterans returning from overseas and their families. Governor O’Malley also signed legislation today to reduce prescription drug costs for thousands of seniors and help secure the fiscal health of Prince George’s County Hospital Center.
“As we prepare to commemorate Memorial Day this weekend, I am proud to sign legislation that ensures that the Maryland veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and their families, receive the services they need in the wake of their service to our nation,” said Governor O’Malley. “Veterans returning to Maryland today are facing greater challenges than seen in a generation with repeated deployments at levels not seen since World War II. I want to thank the Maryland General Assembly for working with us this session to pass this critical legislation to support our returning veterans.”
Governor O’Malley today signed HB372/SB210, legislation that ensures that Maryland’s over 10,000 veterans receive the behavioral health services they deserve. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the legislation helps veterans throughout our state coordinate and obtain access to services available through the federal government and the State’s public mental health system.
The legislation also offers crisis services for severe problems that could become emergencies until longer-term services can be obtained, and creates a Veterans’ Behavioral Health Advisory Board to identify gaps in services and make recommendations for further steps to ensure that all Maryland veterans and their families receive the support and services they require and deserve.
“One of the great tragedies of our times is that our brave warfighters are returning from combat without the necessary support to transition back into their communities,” Lt. Governor Brown said. “As a Veteran, I’m proud to be a part of an administration that has picked up where the federal government has left off. We have an obligation to support those men and women who have put themselves in harm’s way on our behalf and that is exactly what we’re doing today.”
“We can probably never find a way to show how much we appreciate the sacrifices made by our veterans but by providing access to mental health services and protecting the names of our fallen soldiers, we can honor in some small way our Maryland veterans and servicemen,” said Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller.
In addition to the Veterans Behavioral Health Bill, Governor O’Malley also signed:
- HB669 – which expands the eligibility of the motor vehicle excise tax credit to include a member of the military who returns to Maryland from, or on, active duty and, within a year, applies for titling and registration of a vehicle previously titled and registered in another state; and
- SB608 – which extends the deadline for awarding the Veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq Conflicts Scholarship from June 30, 2012 to June 30, 2016.
Building on last year’s efforts by the Maryland General Assembly to expand healthcare coverage to over 100,000 Marylanders, Governor O’Malley today signed legislation that provides prescription drug assistance for thousands of Maryland’s seniors. The bill requires CareFirst to provide $4 million annually to the Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program. Currently, 7,500 Marylanders enrolled in SPDAP whose prescription drug costs are between $2,510 and $4,050 pay 100 percent of their drug costs, while those whose expenditures are under $2,510 and over $4,050 receive help and prescription drug coverage. CareFirst’s $4 million annual contribution to the program will go towards prescription drug coverage for these citizens currently paying 100 percent of their costs, who are in the program’s “donut hole.”
“We must also do all that we can to ensure that every Marylander – including our seniors – has access to the best quality health care that they deserve,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I want to thank the General Assembly in working together this session to pass legislation that ensures Maryland is a leader in affordable and quality health care. With today’s bills, we are helping to secure the long-term fiscal health of the Prince George’s County Hospital Center, providing prescription drug coverage to thousands of Maryland seniors; and giving domestic partners equal rights by allowing them to make health care facility visitation and medical decisions.”
“Governor O’Malley and the entire General Assembly have made significant strides over the past two years in providing health coverage to Marylanders to fill the void left by the federal government,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “Passage of the ‘donut hole’ legislation will provide prescription drug coverage to up to 30,000 Maryland seniors, who have had to struggle with healthcare costs after being left out of Medicare Part D coverage. I commend Chairman Hammen and the Health and Government Operations Committee for their tireless efforts in improving healthcare coverage for our fellow citizens.”
Governor O’Malley signed into law a bill that secures the fiscal health of Prince George’s County Hospital Center and ensures Prince George’s County residents have access to and receive the highest quality healthcare. The bill requires that a seven member Board be created to conduct an open, competitive bidding process for the purpose of selling the health care system to a new owner capable of providing high quality, community-oriented health and hospital services to Prince George’s County residents. Three of the members would be appointed by the Governor, three would be appointed by Prince George’s County government, and one member would be appointed by the Prince George’s County Senate delegation for a one year term. The bill directs the State and County to reach agreement within 60 days on the aggregate amount of public funding they will commit jointly to the health care system if the bidding process results in the transfer of the system to a new owner. The agreement would specify the percentage of the total financial commitment for which the State and County will each be responsible. The Board would issue a request for proposal to consider a new owner’s plan, and the bidding process would be completed in time to present the proposed agreement to the Governor, Prince George’s County Executive Jack Johnson and the Prince George’s County Council, and the General Assembly prior to the 2009 legislative session.
Working together during the first 15 months of the O’Malley-Brown Administration, the State of Maryland and the Department of Veterans Affairs has:
- Implemented the $125,000 state death benefit for the families of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Funded the Iraq and Afghanistan Scholarship Program at a time when the current federal G.I. Bill is lacking.
- Enhanced the status of veterans in the state work force by providing added protection during reductions in the workforce.
- Established the Gold Star license plate so families of the fallen can honor their service by displaying this special tag.
- Established new full-time veterans service offices in Hagerstown, Bel Air and Charlotte Hall to better assist veterans in filing VA claims.
- Established the Veterans Behavioral Health Advisory Board and funded $2.8 million in local behavioral health treatment for veterans who are unable to get needed care through the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Established a procurement preference program for small businesses owned by veterans and service disabled veterans pursuing contracts with University System of Maryland, the Department of General Services, and the Department of Transportation.
- Provided the ability for spouses of military personnel to collect unemployment insurance when they have to leave their jobs due to the transfer their service member out of Maryland.
- Allowed credit for taxes already paid on motor vehicles purchased outside of Maryland when those service members return to Maryland and have to re-register their vehicles.
- Funded an $800,000 re integration program for National Guard members to assist them in returning to their families, jobs and communities after difficult deployments.
[ View full list of bills signed this day ]
