Healthy Maryland: A Building Block for Maryland's Economy

Publication Date: October 2007

Publisher: Families USA

Author(s): Ella Hushagen

Research Area: Health

Type: Report

Coverage: Maryland

Abstract:

In March 2007, the Maryland House approved a significant health reform bill known as the Healthy Maryland Initiative, which was recently introduced as the Working Families and Small Business Health Care Coverage Act of 2007. While the law was not enacted during the regular 2007 legislative session, Governor Martin O'Malley has pledged to support its passage during the special session that began October 29. If Healthy Maryland is enacted, it will expand coverage to 100,000 uninsured Marylanders and support the state's economy. At the same time, Healthy Maryland will deliver important economic benefits to the state -- producing savings within the health care system, creating jobs, and generating business activity.

To find out more about those economic benefits, Families USA analyzed the impact of Healthy Maryland. We found that it would stimulate Maryland's economy while easing the burden on the state's working families.