I represented my committee, Health and Government Operations, at the Medicaid budget hearing this morning.

Medicaid is the second highest expenditure in the budget, exceeded only by aid to local schools.

There are 1.2 million Marylanders on Medicaid.

That’s 20% of the state’s population and 40% of our children and mothers.

Today was not the first time I got to review this budget.

For most of my 20 years on the Appropriations Committee, I served on or chaired the Health Subcommittee.

My first term I sat next to and was mentored by Delegate Robert Neall, a Republican.

Bobby was in the hearing room today.

He’s now the Secretary of Health.

I don’t have a vote anymore on the Health Subcommittee, but today got me thinking about how we can use Medicaid’s leverage as a provider/insurer to improve the quality of health care in our state.

Nothing specific yet…