Martin O'Malley, Governor

Ch. 7

SECTION 9. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any
other provision of law, for fiscal year 2009, funds may be appropriated by approved
budget amendment from the Health Care Coverage Fund established under Section 1
of this Act for:

(1)       the expansion of eligibility for the Maryland Medical Assistance
Program, as enacted under Section 1 of this Act; and

(2)       providing funding for the Small Employer Health Insurance
Benefit Plan Premium Subsidy Program created in Section 1 of this Act.

SECTION 10. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the State 'Health
Services Cost Review Commission and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
shall develop a mechanism to calculate the amount of averted hospital uncompensated
care resulting from the expansion of health care coverage, as enacted under Section 1
of this Act.

SECTION 11. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, notwithstanding any
other provision of law, in fiscal year 2009, $75,000,000 may be transferred by approved
budget amendment from the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Fund to the Health
Care Coverage Fund established under Section 1 of this Act to be used only for the
purposes authorized under § 15-701 of the Health - General Article, as enacted by
Section 1 of this Act.

SECTION 12. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if the State's Medicare
waiver under § 1814(b) of the federal Social Security Act terminates, the hospital rate
assessment specified under § 19-214 § 19-214(d) of the Health - General Article, as
enacted under Section 1 of this Act, shall terminate at the end of the fiscal year in
which the waiver terminates.

SECTION 13. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the State shall ensure
that the transfer of funds from the Maryland Health Insurance Plan Fund under
Section 11 of this Act and the hospital rate assessment specified under § 19-214
§ 19-214(d) of the Health - General Article, as enacted under Section 1 of this Act,
shall be consistent with the State's Medicare waiver under § 1814(b) of the federal
Social Security Act and federal regulations.

SECTION 14. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the
General Assembly, as part of the overall expansion of eligibility for the Maryland
Medical Assistance Program, to increase access to long-term care services, including
home and community-based services for individuals who meet the current Medicaid
financial requirements of the Program and who need 24-hour supervision due to
Alzheimer's disease and related dementias, significant brain injury, or serious mental
illness.

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