Governor Ehrlich's Achievements
In a column in the April 27 Washington Post, Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. touts his recent accomplishments.
While progress has been made in some areas, we have a slightly different view on how well the governor's budget reflects Maryland priorities.
The governor notes that we have some of the best-funded schools in the nation. However, we have pointed out that the Thornton legislation has not been fully funded, and that state support for education is among the lowest in the nation.
In his column, Gov. Ehrlich notes that more Marylanders will have access to health care at seven community-based clinics. Indeed, this is an accomplishment. However, community-based clinics provide primary care only. What good is it to diagnose a kid or adult with diabetes, or something worse, but not have a system to provide follow-up treatment? In most cases clinics are able to beg treatment services from doctors and hospitals, but sometimes it can take a very long time to find a specialist who will treat a patient for free.
In part, this is because specialists could devote their entire practice to providing free care. There are more than 700,000 Marylanders who go the entire year without health insurance–150,000 of those were added in the first two years of Gov. Ehrlich’s tenure. Much of this increase is due to forces outside of the governor’s control. However, instead of addressing the problem of uninsurance, the governor’s budget proposed to make it worse by removing 4,000 people from the Medicaid roles.
We often note that budget is where we express our priorities. Three years ago Maryland’s general fund budget priorities, in order, were k-12 education, Medicaid, health services, higher education, and public safety (mostly prisons). Today, public safety (prison) spending has leapfrogged health services and higher education to become our third highest priority. This occurred when we cut $145 million in spending for higher education in FY 2004 and FY 2005 at the same time that we incarcerated so many people that we are opening a new prison wing later this year.
We could go on, but we want to hear from you. What do you think about how well Maryland priorities are being met? What accomplishments would you like to applaud? And tell us about some areas where you think that community priorities are not being met.
While progress has been made in some areas, we have a slightly different view on how well the governor's budget reflects Maryland priorities.
The governor notes that we have some of the best-funded schools in the nation. However, we have pointed out that the Thornton legislation has not been fully funded, and that state support for education is among the lowest in the nation.
In his column, Gov. Ehrlich notes that more Marylanders will have access to health care at seven community-based clinics. Indeed, this is an accomplishment. However, community-based clinics provide primary care only. What good is it to diagnose a kid or adult with diabetes, or something worse, but not have a system to provide follow-up treatment? In most cases clinics are able to beg treatment services from doctors and hospitals, but sometimes it can take a very long time to find a specialist who will treat a patient for free.
In part, this is because specialists could devote their entire practice to providing free care. There are more than 700,000 Marylanders who go the entire year without health insurance–150,000 of those were added in the first two years of Gov. Ehrlich’s tenure. Much of this increase is due to forces outside of the governor’s control. However, instead of addressing the problem of uninsurance, the governor’s budget proposed to make it worse by removing 4,000 people from the Medicaid roles.
We often note that budget is where we express our priorities. Three years ago Maryland’s general fund budget priorities, in order, were k-12 education, Medicaid, health services, higher education, and public safety (mostly prisons). Today, public safety (prison) spending has leapfrogged health services and higher education to become our third highest priority. This occurred when we cut $145 million in spending for higher education in FY 2004 and FY 2005 at the same time that we incarcerated so many people that we are opening a new prison wing later this year.
We could go on, but we want to hear from you. What do you think about how well Maryland priorities are being met? What accomplishments would you like to applaud? And tell us about some areas where you think that community priorities are not being met.
5 Comments:
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Thanks.
Steve Hill
shill@mdnonprofit.org
By MarylandPolicyBlog, at 2:53 PM
The governor is using a tried and true political tactic-take a terrible situation, SAY that you have made it better (even when the facts make it clear that you haven't) and the people will believe you. Hopefully Marylanders are not as gullible as the typical national voter seems to be.
I am particularly angered by his claim to have improved health care for the uninsured. I manage a free clinic which participates in the Maryland Primary Care program, which provides primary care ONLY for low income patients. As your analysis astutely indicates, primary care is not enough. People need complete, comprehensive health care. I can't tell you the frustration I experience every day when I diagnose a serious medical problem and then am unable to provide the care needed to adequately address that problem. I have patients with thyroid disorders for whom a simple, relatively inexpensive treatment would cure their problem. However, that treatment can only be administered by a gland specialist. None of the 3 specialists in our area will see patients who cannot pay. I wonder if I did these patients any favors by diagnosing their problem (which will probably eventually kill them). This is just one example of the many I deal with on a daily basis.
By Mike Stockman, NP, at 4:49 PM
As you know from my posts, I think Our Dear Gov is doing a terrible job. The biggest problem, and I am in the thick of it, is health care. Because of the large increase in underemployment, and by that I mean somebody who works part time or at Walmart, we have rapidly increasing numbers of average citizens who don't have health insurance. As you know, Glendening at least tried to increase the SCHIP roles. (And don't let anybody fool you that SCHIP is not Medicaid, as some in the national media do). Ehrlich with his henchperson Addie Eckhardt in our area, will attempt to undo this. And, even the turncoat John Adams Hurson will attempt to deny coverage to the poor, the elderly and children (see my post from 11 May).
It just ain't right.
By Dr. C, at 11:28 AM
Mike
Sorry, I didn't see your comment before I published. Sounds like we are experiencing the same problems. I've had to send kids 2 hours away just to get an arm sent. We need some compassionate governence.
By Dr. C, at 1:58 PM
For Eastern Shore blog readers, Dr. C, has a thoughtful blog (with a bit of an edge).
Thanks for your comments. But if I may interject an editorial comment about henchmen and turncoats:
I have worked for and with politicians who cover a wide spectrum of political views in the U.S. All (okay, most) were decent people serving in a way that they thought best. In fact, some of the politicians that I respect the most also happen to be people with whom I disagree on most issues.
In my observation, Del. Hurson has been a great friend of health care advocates in the General Assembly for a long time. I am concerned about his statements in the New York Times, but I wouldn't resort to name calling (besides, if I did, he might not be so receptive to working with me in the future).
Which is a long and not so direct way of saying I would not be so quick to throw around terms like henchmen and turncoats.
Often they are not applicable; and ultimately they do little to build consensus and encourage conversation.
Steve Hill
By MarylandPolicyBlog, at 11:21 PM
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