Governor Hogan’s Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Aggressively Addresses Pressing Matters Of Health And Substance Abuse

Budget Offers Aid And Care To Some Of Maryland’s Most Vulnerable Individuals

“In the past year, we have taken important steps to address another problem that has impaired the quality of life of Marylanders all across our state: heroin and opioid addiction. Please join me in thanking Lt. Governor Rutherford and the members of the Maryland Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force for their countless months of hard work. Thanks to their efforts, we remain relentlessly focused on finding the best ideas and working toward solutions.” -Governor Larry Hogan, February 3, 2016

Providing Quality, Accessible Health Care Options To Marylanders

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Will Provide More Than $10 Billion Toward Maryland’s Medicaid Program. In Fiscal Year 2017, funding for Maryland’s Medicaid Program, which provides basic health care coverage for more than 1.2 million Marylanders will be over $10 billion, an increase from the $9 billion that was provided for Maryland’s Medicaid Program in Fiscal Year 2016. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Will Provide $18 Million In Prescription Drug Assistance To 28,700 People Who Are Medicare Part D Recipients. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

Over $1 Billion Is Invested In Providing For The Needs Of Individuals With Disabilities

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Invests $1.1 Billion In The Developmental Disabilities Administration, An Increase Of 6% From Fiscal Year 2016. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Appropriates A Total Of $105.3 Million For The Division Of Rehabilitation Services. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Provides $18.2 Million To Ensure That Children With Autism Will Continue To Receive Services In Their Community. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

Taking A Stand And Tackling Substance Abuse And Addiction

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Provides $348 Million Toward Existing Substance Addiction Programs And Substance Use Disorders. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

$2.3 Million In Funds Were Included In The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget For A 2% Rate Increase For Providers Who Provide Substance Abuse Services For Those Who Are Uninsured. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

An Additional $3 Million In Funds Were Included In The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget To Support Drug Addiction Services In Prisons And To Reduce Drug-Related Crime And Recidivism. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

Heroin And Opioid Task Force: Taking Action To Address The Devastation Caused By Heroin

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Will Provide $4.8 Million In Additional Funding To Implement The Recommendations Of Maryland’s Opioid And Heroin Emergency Task Force. In addition to executing the recommendations put forth by the Opioid and Heroin Emergency Task Force, the $4.8 million in additional funds will also be instrumental in enhancing the quality of care, expand access to treatment and support services, boost overdose prevention efforts, and strengthen law enforcement options.(Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

The Fiscal Year 2017 Budget Will Also Provide $100,000 Towards A Maryland Public Television Documentary On Heroin Use In Maryland. The documentary on heroin abuse in Maryland will provide those watching with an opportunity to call in and communicate with substance abuse experts. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

Governor Hogan: “Our Administration Is Committed To Doing Everything In Our Power To Bring All The Various Stakeholders Together To Find The Best Ideas, And Work Toward Solutions To The Heroin And Opioid Crisis That Has Overtaken Our State.” (Press Release, “Governor Hogan Introduces Legislation To Combat Maryland’s Heroin And Opioid Epidemic,” Office Of The Governor, 1/26/16)

Providing Greater Access To Hospitals And Healthcare Centers

$52 Million Is Provided Toward Projects At The University Of Maryland Medical System And Sinai Hospital In Baltimore City, As Well As The Prince George’s Regional Medical Center. (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)
The Prince George’s Hospital System Will Receive Over $217 Million. “Governor Larry Hogan today introduced a supplemental budget for FY 2017 that will provide $15 million in operating funds for the Prince George’s Hospital System as part of a long-term partnership with the University of Maryland Medical System to address the chronic financial challenges associated with the county’s health care infrastructure. Under the proposed plan, the Prince George’s Hospital System will receive $55 million in bridge funding between FY 2017 and FY 2021 as the construction of the Prince George’s Regional Medical Center moves to completion… Under the plan, the state of Maryland will contribute an additional $135 million for the construction of a new Prince George’s Regional Medical Center, including $27.5 million already allocated by Governor Hogan in the FY 2017 Capital Budget. The additional $55 million in bridge funding for operations will allow for the successful transition to the University of Maryland Medical System while also bringing to a close decades of operational deficits and financial uncertainty in the county’s main hospital.” (Maryland Department Of Budget And Management; Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces $55 Million In Bridge Funding For Prince George’s Hospital,” Office Of The Governor, 2/5/16)

Governor Hogan: “By Transitioning Operational Responsibility For The County’s Primary Medical Facility To An Established Health Care Leader – The University Of Maryland Medical System – We Can Finally Get Control Of The Problem. I Am Pleased To Be Able To Deliver The Financing To Bring About This Important Change, And Finally End The County’s Reliance On State Subsidies To Deliver Basic Health Care Services.” (Press Release, “Governor Larry Hogan Announces $55 Million In Bridge Funding For Prince George’s Hospital,” Office Of The Governor, 2/5/16; Maryland Department Of Budget And Management)

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D- District 27) Was “Very Pleased” With The Package Toward The Prince George’s Hospital System. “Miller said he was ‘very pleased’ that Hogan decided to add funding next year but that he remained cautiously optimistic about the future of the health care system.” (Ovetta Wiggins and Arelis R. Hernandez, “Hogan Agrees To $15 Million Subsidy For Pr. George’s Hospital System,” The Washington Post, 2/5/16)