Maryland
I. Overview of a State's Comprehensive Person-Centered Employment Initiatives
New-
Medicaid Buy-In legislation was enacted in the 2003 legislative session
to be implemented by July 1, 2005 if funds are available in the state
budget.
A Maryland Coalition for Work Incentive Improvement was organized
in January 2000. (See membership of the
Coalition under III below.)
II. What's New and Persons to Contact
New -
Medicaid Buy-In legislation was enacted in the 2003 legislative session
Go to Section IV to down load a copy of the legislation (HB630)
New -
Maryland has been approved for a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant and
as of September , 2003 the state was in the final stages of selecting
a Project Director.
Persons to Contact:
Cathy Lyle
Deputy Director
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
300 West Lexington Street, Box 10
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-333-3688 Ext. 4
Fax: 410-333-3686
Email: cathyl.mddc@erols.com
Anne Rea
Director of Community Employment and Resource Management Services
Way Station, Inc.
P.O. Box 3826
Frederick, MD 21705-3826
Phone: 301-694-9945 extension 1240
Fax: 301-694-9932
Email: AJREA@aol.com
III. Program Development - Past and
Present
- Executive Branch Leadership, Cross Disability Coalition Leadership
and Interagency Working Groups
New
Report by the Maryland Coaltion for Work Incentive Improvement
to the Maryland legislature related to the development of a Medicaid
Buy-In program.
Download a copy of the complete
report
The following is an excerpt from the Executive Summary of the report
by the Coalition
The Economic Matters Committee ( of the Maryland House of Delegates)
, the Maryland Coalition for Work Incentives Improvement, and the
Department of Health and Mental Hygience (DHMH) have been actively
engaged on the issue for two years. The Coalition and the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene were asked to develop a feasible and
fiscally responsive approach to provide the requisite Medicaid coverage
for employed persons with disabilities.
The Coalition reviewed the experience of the other states with Medicaid
Buy-In Programs and drafted a strategy that addresses the issues
relevant to Maryland. The strategy allows for a carefully phased
implementation that recognizes the fiscal realities of Maryland.
The cost will be managed by:
- Phased in eligibility limits over three years for earned and unearned
income
- Income limits of 300% of poverty level and asset limitations
- Targeting participation in early years to individuals with significant
gainful employment
Participating Organizations in the Maryland Coalition for Work Incentive
Improvement
Download file of membership
- Initial Planning, Information Gathering and Program and Fiscal
Estimates
Download copy of Maryland
Survey
Download summary of results of Maryland
Consumer survey
Vision of Maryland Coalition of Work Incentive Improvement:
A Maryland with no barriers to employment for persons with disabilities.
Purpose:
To develop and implement a comprehensive plan that reduces barriers
to employment for persons with disabilities while preserving and expanding
access to health care and benefits. Through efforts of the disability
community, this coalition was formed in January 2000. A unique element
of this Coalition is the participation by both the disability advocacy
organizations and the state agencies. The Coalition's initial activities
centered on developing a Medicaid Buy In program for the state of
Maryland. The Coalition developed a Consumer survey to provide source
information on the interest in and impact of a Medicaid Buy In program.
Maryland Consumer Survey Results
During the summer of 2000, the Maryland Coalition for Work Incentives
Improvement conducted a survey of people with disabilities to determine
the need for a Medicaid Buy In program and to gather information which
would be helpful for designing a Medicaid Buy In program. 853 surveys
were returned. See below for a summary of the
results of the survey.
IV. State Legislation - Adopted and Pending
New-
Down load a copy of the legislation (HB 630)
the Medicaid Buy-In legislation signed into law by the Governor.
The legislation requires, to the extent that funding is available
in the State budget, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH)
to implement the Employed Persons with Disabilities Program (EPDP)
by July 1, 2005.
The bill requires the state agency prior to adopting the regulations
to implement a Medicaid Buy-In program to “(I)consult with the
Coalition for Work Incentives Improvement and (II) give preference
to the recommendations for eligibility criteria developed by the Coalition”.
The recommendations of the Coalition are shown in the crossed out
portion of the bill that can be downloaded. The recommendation of
the Coalition included: that enrollees in a Medicaid Buy-In program
must have earned income of no less than $400 a month (typo in the
drafting of the bill) and unearned income of no more than $850 a month.
V. Current State Policies and Program Descriptions
- State Policies: State Plans, Regulations and Waiver Requests to
Federal Agencies - Pending and Adopted Programs
- Ensuring Informed Choice and Person - Centered Programs: Benefits
Counseling, Work Force Investment Act Implementation and Related Educational
Services
- Descriptions for Consumers and Staff Training Activities
VI. Program Data and Impact
- Medicaid Buy-In Data
- Consumer Surveys and Evaluation Studies
VII. Comprehensive Employment Initiatives
Comprehensive Employment Project Established under DOL Grant.
Way Station, Inc., a comprehensive mental health service organization
in Frederick, Maryland, was awarded a grand by the US Department of
Labor for a work incentives project. The following is an excerpt from
an executive summary of the Project:
"The Frederich Works project was a comprehensive proposal
designed to address the multiple impediments to employment that
persons with disabilities must overcome. Consortium partners include:
the Workforce Development Board of Frederick County (the
local workforce investment board with a majority membership of private
businesses), the One-Stop Employment Partnership (OEP) of
Frederick County (a team of nine public agencies, including the
Maryland State Department of Education Division of Rehabilitation
Services), and Way Station, Inc. and Goodwill Industries
of Monocacy Valley, Inc. (private, nonprofit, disability services
organizations)."
Download a two page executive summary
of the Project.
|
