New Advisory Group for Easy Enrollment Program

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                        AUG. 7, 2019

ADVISORY GROUP FORMED TO HELP LAUNCH MARYLAND’S 

NEW EASY ENROLLMENT PROGRAM

Two additional work groups created to improve health plan benefits and affordability  

Baltimore (Aug. 7, 2019) - A new advisory work group to help plan and implement Maryland's new “easy enrollment” program for state tax filers has been created by the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE). The work group will advise the MHBE Board of Trustees and other agencies on the rollout of the Maryland Easy Enrollment Health Insurance Program (MEEHP) in spring 2020. Uninsured Marylanders will be notified about their options for free or low-cost health coverage if they indicate on their 2019 state tax return that members of their household lack health insurance. Governor Larry Hogan signed the program into law May 13.

“We value and appreciate the insight of our work group members. They are dedicated to improving the health of Marylanders through strengthening the Maryland Health Connection marketplace, and we thank them for their support,” said MHBE Executive Director Michele Eberle. 

The group of volunteers selected to advise on the implementation of  the MEEHP are:

NAME	ORGANIZATION
Alverta Steinwedel	Maryland Society of Accounting and  Tax Professionals
Benjamin Fulgencio-Turner	Primary Care Coalition
Betty McGarvie-Crowley	Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry  of Maryland
Debbie Harrison	National Business Group on Health
Deborah Rivkin	CareFirst
Evan Leiter-Mason	CASH Campaign of Maryland (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)
Iana Capers	Centene
Jeananne Sciabarra	HealthCare Access Maryland
Jeffrey Lawson	Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants
Jen Brock-Cancellieri	United Healthcare Workers
Kim Cammarata	Health Education and Advocacy Unit,  Office of the Attorney General
Margaret Murray	Association for Community Affiliated Plans
Melissa Hurtt	Mother Earth Designs
Stephanie Klapper	Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative
Shaunteria Scott	Kaiser Permanente
Stan Dorn	Families USA
Tanya Schwartz	Harbage Consulting
Teresa Healey-Conway	MedChi
Wandra Ashley-Williams	NAACP
Maansi Raswant	Maryland Hospital Association
Alyssa Sinagra	Avery Hall Benefit Solutions
Debora Gorman	MD Comptroller's Office
Anne Klase	MD Comptroller's Office

 Two other advisory work groups were formed by MHBE to recommend changes to address issues of health insurance affordability and essential health benefits. The State Benchmark Plan work group issued recommendations on whether benchmark plans should be more flexible and responsive to Maryland’s needs. Benchmark plans are used by states to define the essential health benefits that all plans must offer through the marketplace. Read the final report here. The members of the work group are: 

NAME	ORGANIZATION
Kim Cammarata	Health Advocacy and Education Unit, Attorney General’s Office
Stephanie Klappar	Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative
Leni Preston	Former president of Consumer Health First
Jennifer Storm	CareFirst
Renee Vis	Kaiser Permanente
Brad Boban	Maryland Insurance Administration
Laura Pimentel, M.D.	University of Maryland School of Medicine
Laura Samuel, Ph.D., C.R.N.P.	The Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

The Affordability Work Group provides recommendations to the MHBE Board of Trustees to help determine policy solutions to reduce out-of-pocket costs and make coverage more affordable, including for households who do not qualify for federal tax credits to lower their monthly premiums. MHBE is seeking public comments on the Draft Affordability Work Group Report until August 30, 2019. Please submit any comments to MHBE.publiccomments@maryland.gov. The members of the work group are: 

NAME	ORGANIZATION
Ken Brannan	Special Olympics Maryland
Stephanie Klapper	Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative
Robert Metz	CareFirst
Holly Mirabella	The CASH Campaign of Maryland (Creating Assets, Savings and Hope)
Maansi Raswant	Maryland Hospital Association
Kim Rucker	Kaiser Permanente
Beth Sammis	Former president of Consumer Health First

 

Additional Support
NAME	ORGANIZATION
Joseph Fitzpatrick	Maryland Insurance Administration
Brad Boban	Maryland Insurance Administration

For more information, visit MarylandHBE.com/Policy-Legislation/Work-Groups

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About the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange: The Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE), a public corporation and independent unit of state government established in 2011, administers Maryland Health Connection: the state-based marketplace for Marylanders to shop and enroll in health insurance, as well as determine eligibility for Medicaid and other assistance programs. It is the only place where Marylanders can access financial help such as tax credits to make coverage more affordable. More than 1 million Marylanders – one of every six – receive health insurance through Maryland Health Connection. 

Media Contact: Betsy Plunkett, director, marketing & web strategies, 410-547-6324 betsy.plunkett@maryland.gov