The State of Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program

The State of Maryland’s medical assistance Program provides health care coverage to eligible low- and moderate-income individuals, families and children, pregnant women, the aged, blind, and disabled.

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Introduction

The State of Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program provides health care coverage for low-income residents of Maryland. The program is jointly administered by the state and federal government, and is managed by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The program provides health care coverage for a wide range of services, including inpatient and outpatient hospital care, physician services, laboratory and X-ray services, and more. In addition, the program provides coverage for prescription drugs and Durable medical equipment (DME).

The program is available to residents of Maryland who meet certain income and asset requirements. In general, applicants must have an income at or below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), although there are some exceptions for elderly and disabled applicants. In addition, applicants must not have assets exceeding $2,000 (or $3,000 for couples).

To apply for the Medical Assistance Program, interested individuals can contact their local Department of Social Services office.

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for Medical assistance through the State of Maryland, an individual must meet certain financial and non-financial criteria. Financial criteria includes such things as income, resources, and any other money that may be available to the individual. Non-financial criteria includes factors such as pregnancy, age, disability, and citizenship status.

Coverage

The Medical Assistance program is a joint federal-state program that provides health care coverage to low-income individuals and families. In Maryland, the program is administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).

Medical Assistance provides coverage for a wide range of services, including hospitalization, outpatient care, prescription drugs, and long-term care. Eligibility for the program is based on income and assets. In general, adults aged 18-64 who have incomes at or below 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible for coverage. pregnant women up to 205% of FPL, children up to age 19 up to 133% FPL, and parents/caretakers up to 100% FPL if caring for a related child under age 19.

Individuals who are eligible for Medicare are also eligible for Medical Assistance. In addition, Maryland has expanded its Medicaid program to cover all residents with incomes at or below 138% of the poverty level. This expansion took effect in January of 2014.

Enrollment

As of July 1, 2019, a total of 877,064 people were enrolled in Maryland’s Medical Assistance program. This is a decrease of 2.4% from the previous year.

Cost

One of the biggest factors that determines whether or not a state’s medical assistance program is sustainable is the cost. In Maryland, the cost of the program has been rising in recent years, and this trend is expected to continue. The state has a number of options for dealing with this issue, but each has its own set of trade-offs.

Raising taxes is one way to cover the increasing costs of the program. However, this option is likely to be unpopular with residents, as it will require them to pay more for something that is already expensive. Another option is to cut benefits, which could cause those who rely on the program the most to suffer. Finally, the state could try to negotiate better deals with providers, which could help to reduce costs without causing too much disruption.

Whatever option the state chooses, it will need to be prepared to accept some trade-offs. There is no perfect solution to this problem, and any decision that is made will have negative as well as positive consequences.

Provider Network

The State of Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program provides health care coverage to low-income individuals and families. The program is administered by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH).

The provider network for the Medical Assistance Program includes a wide range of providers, from primary care physicians to specialists. In order to be eligible for reimbursement by the program, providers must be enrolled in the program and must participate in the state’s provider screening process.

Quality

The quality of care in Maryland’s Medicaid program is strong. Participating providers are required to meet certain standards, including:
– Providing care that is culturally and linguistically competent
– Keeping up with best practices
– Participating in quality improvement activities

There are also several programs in place to help improve the quality of care for Medicaid recipients, such as:
– The use of health information technology
– The Statewide Quality Assessment and Improvement System
– Provider training and support programs

Customer Service

The Maryland Department of Health’s (MDH) Medical Assistance (MA) Program strives to provide excellent customer service to our clients. We are committed to answering your questions in a timely and professional manner.

We understand that customers may have questions about the MA program or their benefits. To help answer these questions, MDH has customer service representatives available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. You can reach a customer service representative by calling 1-800-456-8900 or by sending an email to [email protected].

When calling or emailing MDH, please be sure to have your MA case number or Social Security number ready, as this will help us locate your information in our system.

Fraud and Abuse

The State of Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program is committed to protecting taxpayer dollars from fraud and abuse. We work diligently to identify and investigate potential fraud cases, and we work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who commit Medicaid fraud. We also work to educate providers, beneficiaries, and the general public about the importance of preventing and reporting fraud.

Future of the Program

The State of Maryland’s Medical Assistance Program provides health care benefits for low-income residents who are aged, blind, or disabled. The program is jointly funded by the state and federal government, and is administered by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

The program has been facing significant budget challenges in recent years, due in part to the rising cost of health care. In response to these challenges, the Maryland Legislature has made a number of changes to the program, including reducing benefits and eligibility.

Looking ahead, it is unclear what the future of the Medical Assistance Program will be. The rising cost of health care is likely to continue to be a challenge, and it is possible that further cuts to benefits and eligibility will be made. However, it is also possible that the Legislature will take steps to increase funding for the program, in order to maintain its current level of benefits and coverage.