WASHINGTON — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has signed a bill that is designed to protect the state’s health insurance program.
In a bill signing ceremony in Annapolis, Hogan said state leaders had to step in because Congress failed to act: “This problem should have been solved in Washington, but nothing has been done,”
In order to shore up the Maryland Health Care Exchange, the bill protects insurers against skyrocketing costs by creating a reinsurance program. Sitting between House Speaker Mike Busch and Senate President Mike Miller, Hogan thanked them “and members on both sides of the aisle for working together with us in a common-sense, bipartisan manner to address this crisis head-on.”
Hogan supports a separate bill that taps about $380 million that health insurance companies no longer have to pay in federal taxes due to changes in the federal tax code. The money will be used to keep rates costs down over the next year. That measure could be signed as soon as next week.
At the Thursday morning ceremony, Hogan also signed the state’s budget bill, which includes $40 million in school safety improvements.
The governor also signed a bill that seeks to keep the state on as a partner in an effort to fight climate change. Governor Hogan said the bill “reaffirms Maryland’s strong commitment” to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The bill prevents future administrations from withdrawing from the initiative without legislative approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
