More Than 180,000 Have Enrolled For 2022, An All-Time High

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that open enrollment will continue on Maryland Health Connection through February in light of the ongoing public health emergency. A record number of Marylanders—181,603—have enrolled in coverage for 2022 through the state’s health insurance marketplace. A surge of new enrollees fueled the 9% increase over a year ago.

“As we battle this COVID-19 surge, this extended enrollment period will help get more Marylanders covered at a critical time,” said Governor Hogan. “One of the many lessons of the pandemic is how important it is to have access to affordable and reliable health coverage, and we are fortunate to have a health exchange that is a national model.”

Open enrollment, which began Nov. 1 and was originally scheduled to end Jan. 15, will now continue through Feb. 28. Anyone who enrolls by Jan. 31 will have coverage beginning Feb. 1. Those who enroll during February will be covered starting March 1.

New enrollees totaled 39,181—up 48%—between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15. Nearly 142,000 existing enrollees also retained their coverage—up 2%—as the health emergency stretched into a third year. Marylanders can also obtain dental insurance through the state marketplace. Those enrollments grew 29% from 51,505 a year ago to 66,634 for 2022.

Populations that have historically proportionately lacked health coverage, including young adults as well as Black and Hispanic residents, enrolled at record numbers during the enrollment period between Nov. 1 and Jan. 15.

Enrollment of adults ages 18 to 34 reached 49,576, a 6% increase over the 2021 open enrollment period. The gain was propelled by additional financial help from a $20 million fund that Maryland set aside during last year’s legislative session to encourage more young adults to get coverage, both for their own health and to help bring down the overall cost of coverage. Nearly two-thirds—32,122—of young adult enrollees qualified for the additional subsidy, which reduced their monthly costs about $35 per person. More than 8,000 of those young adults who qualified for the additional help were new enrollees.

Black enrollees for 2022 totaled 30,535, a 10% increase over the past year. Hispanic enrollees totaled 20,241, a 13% increase over the past year. Self-identification of race and ethnicity is optional on the application.

“I’m pleased that the marketing and outreach efforts we targeted to those groups helped get the message out about the need for health insurance, especially now,” said Michele Eberle, executive director of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange, which runs the state’s health insurance marketplace. “Getting high-quality, affordable coverage to as many uninsured people as possible and responding to chronic health inequities are essential to our mission. I’d like to thank our amazing statewide partners for helping us spread the word.”

Other action in recent years by state and federal officials helped fuel enrollments. The reinsurance program that Governor Hogan and the Maryland General Assembly created in 2018 with federal approval led Maryland to offer some of the most affordable plans in the nation. On average, Maryland’s individual market offered the least expensive gold and bronze plans and the third least expensive silver plans in the nation, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis in October.

Also, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, approved by Congress and signed by President Biden last March, broadened financial help to all income levels for people who buy their own health coverage. That was reflected in the enrollment totals: The number of people who earn more than four times the federal poverty level, which was the cap for financial help before the rescue plan, grew by 60% over a year ago to 16,053. The federal poverty level is $12,880 for an individual and $26,500 for a family of four.

Additional enrollment opportunities will continue this year, including the Easy Enrollment Program, which allows uninsured people to get coverage if they check a box when filing their state income tax form.

A similar program will launch later this year for any Marylander filing for Unemployment Insurance who checks a box to indicate that they need coverage.

Maryland’s approach has helped stabilize prices and enrollment on the individual health insurance market. Coverage is open to all applicants regardless of pre-existing conditions since the Affordable Care Act launched a decade ago.

The total number of Marylanders who purchase their own health insurance grew 5% from 234,802 a year ago to 245,538 this month. That total includes both those who buy through Maryland Health Connection, the only outlet for financial help, and those who buy directly through one of the three companies that serve the individual market in Maryland.

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Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, according to official CDC data, 90% of all Marylanders 18 and older have now received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is a major milestone for the state’s vaccination campaign.

“Even as we continue to urge booster shots, we are also very focused on getting the remaining unvaccinated individuals vaccinated,” said Governor Hogan. “As part of our commitment to leave no arm behind, we will work to get that last remaining 10% vaccinated. This continues to be the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your fellow Marylanders.”

Booster Eligibility Open To All Marylanders 16 and Older. On Thursday, the governor announced that the state has expanded eligibility for booster shots to include all Marylanders 16 and older. To date, the state is reporting 1,236,872 booster shots administered. Nearly 60% of the state’s eligible seniors have received a booster shot.

Find a Vaccine Clinic. To find a clinic, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call the state’s multilingual call center, available seven days a week, at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Request a Vaccine Clinic. Businesses, schools, organizations, or community groups can request a GoVAX mobile clinic for their organization at governor.maryland.gov/govaxmobile or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

State Continues Preparations for Convergence of Delta and Omicron Variants
State Health Officials Direct Hospitals to Update Emergency Capacity Plans, Maximize Use of Regional Hospitals and Alternate Care Sites
Hospitals Ordered to Establish Community-Based Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Programs

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—As the state surpassed 1,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations today, Governor Larry Hogan announced a series of actions to ensure hospitals are prepared for current and future surges due to the convergence of the flu, and the Delta and Omicron variants.

“Maryland has begun to see an uptick in our key health metrics, and we are increasingly concerned by the sharp rise in hospitalizations, which have doubled over the last three weeks,” said Governor Hogan. “State health officials are taking these additional actions as we continue to use every tool at our disposal to help Maryland hospitals have the resources they need to respond to this and future hospital surges.”

Enhanced statewide preparedness for the COVID-19 and Omicron variant surge includes the following:

Hospitals Directed to Update Emergency Plans, Maximize Use of Regional Hospitals and Alternate Care Sites. The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) is directing hospitals to update their existing emergency plans by Dec. 15 and immediately take steps to maximize hospital bed capacity.

Actions:

• Implement practices to balance patient admissions, and “level load” the number of COVID-19 inpatients versus the number of non-COVID-19 inpatients;
• Maximize available staffed medical-surgical and ICU bed capacity; and
• Balance patient capacity by maximizing the use of all regional hospitals and alternate care sites;

Read the MDH order here.

State health officials have also directed hospitals to establish community based monoclonal antibody (mAb) infusion programs, including the capability to do in-home infusions. These activities will be funded by Health Service Cost Review Commission grants announced earlier this year. Downstream mAb infusions in the community can prevent Marylanders from ending up in the hospital and are in the hospitals’ best interest to make these programs successful.

Providers are strongly encouraged to offer monoclonal antibody infusions to COVID-positive patients. More information on this treatment is available at covidlink.maryland.gov.

Enhance Healthcare Staffing. State health officials are urging the Maryland Board of Physicians, Maryland Board of Pharmacy, and Maryland Board of Nursing to take the necessary steps to:

• Permit the temporary licensure of recently retired licensees; and
• Simplify or eliminate the administrative burdens for interstate compact or out-of-state health care practitioners to practice in Maryland.

Read the MDH letter here.

In addition, the governor has announced that emergency legislation will be introduced next month to provide hospital systems with more tools to help address staffing shortages.

This is in addition to proactive steps the governor announced in September to increase the state’s nursing workforce.

Expanded COVID-19 Booster Shots to 16- and 17-Year-Olds. With data showing waning immunity against COVID-19 after six months, and following yesterday’s approvals by the FDA and CDC, all Marylanders ages 16 and 17 are urged to get a Pfizer booster shot for additional protection against the virus. Maryland also expanded the already eligible group of Marylanders 18 and older to receive any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine as a booster dose.

All eligible Marylanders are strongly recommended to get a flu shot at the earliest opportunity. Flu shots can be administered at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine shot.

To find a clinic, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call the state’s multilingual call center, available seven days a week, at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland is immediately authorizing COVID-19 Pfizer booster shots for all 16- and 17-year-olds in Maryland. This action aligns with recommendations by both the FDA and the CDC. State health officials continue to strongly recommend that all eligible Marylanders get booster shots in order to maintain immunity against severe COVID-19.

“Expanding booster eligibility to include 16- and 17-year-olds is another critical step to getting more Marylanders fully protected, and with the convergence of the flu, and the Delta and Omicron variants, it comes at a critical time,” said Governor Hogan. “As we approach the holiday season, I want to again stress that getting a booster truly is the single most important thing you can do to protect yourself, your family, and your fellow Marylanders.”

Updated Guidance to Providers. State health officials have issued an updated bulletin to providers making individuals 16 and 17 years of age eligible for a Pfizer booster dose only at least six months after completion of primary vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Nearly 1.2 Million Booster Shots. To date, the State of Maryland is reporting 1,185,120 booster shots administered. Nearly half of the state’s eligible seniors have received a booster shot. Official data is available at coronavirus.maryland.gov.

Find a Vaccine Clinic. To find a clinic, visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call the state’s multilingual call center, available seven days a week, at 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Request a Vaccine Clinic. Businesses, schools, organizations, or community groups can request a GoVAX mobile clinic for their organization at governor.maryland.gov/govaxmobile or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX (1-855-634-6829).

Governor Hogan Provided COVID-19 Update to Marylanders Earlier Today

Per the State of Maryland:

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland has surpassed 1 million COVID-19 booster shots. This is another major milestone as the state continues to conduct one of the most successful vaccination campaigns in the country.

To date, the state has administered 9,395,285 COVID-19 vaccines, including 1,004,758 booster shots. According to official CDC data, 99.9% of seniors and 88.9% of adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The state has administered 117,644 vaccinations to 5- to 11-year-olds—representing 22.7% of the age group.

COVID-19 Update Today at 2 p.m. Earlier this afternoon, Governor Hogan provided a COVID-19 update to Marylanders, including the state’s preparations for the Omicron variant.

All Marylanders 18 and Older Eligible For Booster Shots. Both federal and state health officials recommend that all adults get COVID-19 booster shots. The state has both the supply and the capacity to provide a vaccine to anyone who wants one.

Below you’ll see notes from Governor Larry Hogan’s 11/3 press conference, as tweeted by his Deputy Communications Director, Kata Hall:

• Earlier today, Maryland health officials authorized providers across the state to immediately begin scheduling appointments, holding clinics, and vaccinating 5- to 11-year-olds.

515,000 Maryland children are now eligible to receive their COVID-19 vaccine.

• Based on requests from providers, the state placed an initial order of 180,000 doses, which began arriving directly from Pfizer earlier this week.

Many of these doses are already in place across the state.

• According to the White House, it will take some time to get all of the doses distributed.

Maryland will receive additional allocations in the coming weeks, and we anticipate receiving enough capacity for all of the state’s 5- to 11-year-olds.

• Parents/caregivers have several options for getting children vaccinated:

-Pediatricians and family physicians
-Pharmacies
-Local health departments
-School clinics

• Ongoing state support for vaccinating children includes:

-staffing resources for school systems
-Vaccine Equity Task Force teams in underserved communities
-direct outreach by GoVAX Call Center
-Radio and TV PSAs

• New PSA by Maryland pediatricians:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PvmJfzT9Lg

• More than 300 providers of vaccines for 5- to 11- years old are available, with more expected to be added in the coming weeks.

To find a vaccine provider, Marylanders can visit covidvax.maryland.gov or call 1-855-MD-GOVAX.

• Gov Hogan: “Our primary goal with all of these actions is to make sure that parents have all of the information they need to make the best informed decision for their family, because ultimately this decision is up to—and should be left to—Maryland parents and families.”

• COVID-19 VACCINE UPDATE:
-More than 8.5 million COVID-19 vaccines administered
-Over 430,000 boosters administered

• COVID-19 DATA UPDATE:
-Positivity rate down 89% from peak
-Case rate down 78% from peak
-Hospitalizations down 72% from peak

• Dr. Jinlene Chan is now providing additional clinical information regarding COVID-19 vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds.

Governor Hogan held a press conference at the State House in Annapolis with Maryland Budget Secretary David Brinkley and Chief Legislative Officer Keiffer Mitchell to provide an update on the budget.

Below you’ll see notes from his press conference, as tweeted by his Deputy Communications Director, Kata Hall:

• For the first time in nearly a quarter century, the State of Maryland is projecting a long-term balanced budget, including a $2.5 billion surplus, the biggest in state history.

• Governor Hogan: “Already some politicians see this as a chance to go on a big spending spree with pet projects, big payouts to special interests, and new mandated increases in spending. That is not going to happen on my watch.”

• As a result of Maryland’s strong health and economic recovery, tax revenues are expected to be $1.6 billion higher than projected and state agency reversions are $195 million more than expected.

• Gov Hogan: “The entire mission of my administration has been to leave our state in a stronger fiscal position than when we found it, and that is exactly what we have done.”

For first time since FY99, MD is projecting that we will take in more money than we are spending.

• FRAMEWORK FOR $2.5 BILLION SURPLUS. The governor announces a five-point plan for utilizing the state’s record surplus, which practices fiscal discipline while prioritizing relief that advances Maryland’s recovery.

Governor Hogan is holding a press conference to provide a Covid update to Marylanders.

Below you’ll see notes from his press conference, as tweeted by his Deputy Communications Director, Kata Hall:

• VACCINE UPDATE. Maryland has administered more than 7.9 million COVID-19 vaccines, including:
-96.1% of Marylanders 65+
-83.6% of Marylanders 18+
-82.6% of all eligible Marylanders 12+

• COVID-19 DATA UPDATE:
-Last week, Maryland reported the lowest case rate in the nation
-Positivity rate down 20% over the last month
-Hospitalizations down 60% from peak
-COVID hospitalizations account for just 11% of total hospitalizations statewide

• COVID-19 BOOSTERS. In spite of limited and confusing federal guidance, Maryland health officials have spent the last several months building the infrastructure for a statewide operation for boosters.

As of today, Maryland has administered over 78,000 booster shots.

• “If you are confused about boosters, you are not alone. With so much conflicting guidance out there, I want to take a moment today to simply give Marylanders the current status.”

• MODERNA BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY. If you received a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and you are immunocompromised, you are also currently eligible for a booster shot.

However, there is still no approval or guidance yet on Moderna boosters for the wider population.

• J&J BOOSTER ELIGIBILITY. If you received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine, there is still no federal guidance whatsoever for boosters.

The governor has been pressing for action and is hopeful that we will see more progress in the next few weeks.

• BOOSTER OUTREACH. Maryland has launched a vigorous outreach effort for those Marylanders who are currently eligible for a booster shot.

• Maryland Health Department issued a bulletin directing providers to make boosters available to all eligible Marylanders

-Health officials are engaging directly with nursing/ congregate care facilities, local health depts, primary care physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, other providers

• Statewide call center is directly contacting eligible Marylanders and has scheduled over 30,000 appointments for booster shots

-Marylanders can now visit covidvax.maryland.gov to find out where Pfizer boosters are available near you

• The state will also be launching a series of television and radio ads encouraging eligible Marylanders to get their booster shot

• COVID-19 VACCINES FOR 5- TO 11-YEAR-OLDS. In anticipation of federal approval, Governor Hogan has directed state health officials to work closely with pediatricians, school systems, and local health departments to accelerate plans for vaccinating children.

• Governor Hogan: “The most important thing school systems can do right now to limit outbreaks and to prevent needless quarantines is utilize the robust testing capacity they have been given.”

• SCHOOL TESTING PROGRAM UPDATE. Last year, Maryland introduced a statewide testing program for schools, making up to 1 million tests available immediately for both public and nonpublic schools

• For the current school year, the Hogan admin has provided $182 million to local school systems for surveillance testing of the student population.

The application period for this program has been extended to Oct. 10. So far, only 13 public school systems are participating.

• Maryland Health Department’s testing program currently has 415,800 rapid tests available for schools to access.

-The state has provided over $2.7 billion in emergency federal funding directly to school systems over the past 18 months. Nearly $2 billion remains unutilized by the schools.

• EMERGENCY LEGISLATION TO INCREASE NURSING WORKFORCE. Governor Hogan announces that he will introduce emergency legislation to maximize the ability of hospitals to increase their nursing workforce.

• This legislation would make permanent a number of the steps the governor announced last week to mitigate staffing shortages.

• MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENT UPDATE:
-Maryland has administered over 13,000 monoclonal antibody treatments
-These treatments have helped avoid approx. 600 hospitalizations and more than 250 deaths

• Monoclonal antibody therapy is available at more than 80 facilities statewide, and health officials have directed clinicians to step up their utilization of this treatment.

For more information, visit: CovidLink

Governor Hogan is holding a press conference to provide a Covid update to Marylanders. The press conference is being held at the State House in Annapolis with @MDHealthDept Secretary Dennis Schrader and @MarylandAging Secretary Rona Kramer

Below you’ll see notes from his press conference, as tweeted by his Deputy Communications Director, Kata Hall:

• VACCINE UPDATE:
-The State of Maryland has administered more than 7.6 million COVID-19 vaccines
-80% of eligible Marylanders 12+ have received at least one dose
-95% of Marylanders 65+ have received at least one dose
-68% of 12- to 17-year-olds have received at least one dose

• VAXU SCHOLARSHIP PROMOTION. With the help of our successful $1 million VaxU Scholarship Promotion, the % of 12- to 17-year-olds in Maryland who have now been vaccinated rose 17 points over the past two months.

• COVID DATA UPDATE:
-Maryland’s statewide positivity rate is the 6th lowest in America
-Case rate is the second lowest in America
-Hospitalizations are down 60% from their peak

• BOOSTERS. State health officials have been actively preparing for the next phase of our vaccination campaign and laying the groundwork for a statewide operation for booster shots.

Over 28,000 booster have already been administered to immunocompromised Marylanders.

• ANTIBODY TESTING PROGRAM. As part of booster preparation, the state launched an antibody testing program last month for 500 nursing home residents.

Findings indicated that:
-Over 60% demonstrated some form of waning immunity
-As many as 1 in 3 are now particularly vulnerable

• @GovLarryHogan: “All of the evidence makes it abundantly clear that we cannot afford to delay taking decisive action to protect our most vulnerable citizens.”

• BOOSTERS FOR SENIORS IN CONGREGATE CARE FACILITIES. @MDHealthDept has issued an order that makes all Marylanders 65 and older who are living in congregate care settings immediately eligible for booster shots.

• This health order applies to all nursing homes, assisted living facilities, residential drug treatment centers, and developmentally disabled group homes.

• BOOSTERS FOR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED MARYLANDERS. @MDHealthDept is issuing guidance today instructing all pharmacies and providers across the state to administer boosters without a prescription or doctor’s order to anyone who considers themselves to be immunocompromised.

• COMMUNITY COVID-19 VACCINATION PROJECT. This week, the state is launching a $3 million statewide, community-based, door-to-door canvassing effort to directly engage Marylanders living in areas with low vaccination rates.

• MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY. The State of Maryland has administered more than 10,000 infusions which have helped avoid approximately 500 hospitalizations and 200 deaths. These treatments are available at 30+ facilities statewide.

• @GovLarryHogan continues to call on the Biden administration to:
-Address boosters for those who received the J&J vaccine
-Advance full FDA approval of Moderna and J&J vaccines
-Expedite approval of vaccines for 5- to 11-year-olds

Connect Maryland Commits Additional $100 Million to Fully Address Digital Divide
New Broadband Benefit Subsidy Program to Reduce Cost for Low and Moderate Income Households
Establishes Maryland Broadband Advisory Workgroup of Key Stakeholders

Per the State of Maryland:

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of Connect Maryland, a transformative new initiative to supercharge the State of Maryland’s broadband investment with a total new investment of $400 million to fully address the digital divide. The governor made the announcement in Snow Hill, where he was joined by Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, and other local elected officials.

“The State of Maryland has set an ambitious goal of ensuring universal broadband to everyone in every single corner of the state by no later than 2025, and Connect Maryland is the game-changing initiative that is going to get us there,” said Governor Hogan. “This is just one more shining example that we aren’t just committed to fully recovering from the pandemic, but we are committed to coming back even stronger and better than ever before.”

Connect Maryland includes:

$400 Million In Broadband Funding. Connect Maryland includes the investment of an additional $100 million to expand broadband access across the state. This is in addition to the $300 million investment that was announced in March as part of a bipartisan budget agreement to allocate federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

Maryland Broadband Advisory Workgroup. To ensure that funding is invested in local communities swiftly, Governor Hogan announced the creation of a bipartisan Maryland Broadband Advisory Workgroup, which will bring together key stakeholders from across the state. This panel will include representatives from the counties and municipalities, as well as members of the General Assembly, to advise the state on the best ways to utilize this new investment in broadband infrastructure.

Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit Subsidy Program. To make broadband more affordable for low- and moderate-income households, the governor also announced the launch of a new Maryland Emergency Broadband Benefit Subsidy Program. To receive assistance, a household must already be approved for service under the Federal Emergency Broadband Benefit Program.

The federal program provides a discount on internet service of up to $50 per month; when combined with state assistance, households can receive a discount of $65 per month for up to 12 months.

A household is eligible for the program if a member of the household meets one of the criteria below:

• Has an income that is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or participates in certain assistance programs, such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Lifeline;
• Approved to receive benefits under the free and reduced-price school lunch program or the school breakfast program, including through the USDA Community Eligibility Provision in the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year;
• Received a Federal Pell Grant during the current award year;
• Experienced a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020, and the household had a total income in 2020 at or below $99,000 for single filers and $198,000 for joint filers; or
• Meets the eligibility criteria for a participating Internet Service Provider’s existing low-income or COVID-19 program.