The Health Care Value Hub published a scorecard for states on health care affordability in July 2023. This report shows that Maryland is among the top 10 states in the country for health care affordability and makes recommendations for improvements which include our top priorities: prescription drug affordability, maximizing enrollment in existing coverage programs and eliminating barriers to health care access tied to immigration status. This independent report validates the importance of our coalition’s work and the impact of our advocacy to make health care more affordable in Maryland.
Excerpt:
“Ensuring health care affordability for residents is a challenge faced by many states. While federal
policy frequently dominates the discourse surrounding health care affordability burdens, states
may also use their authority to create a more effective system through various policy avenues. To
explore these options, the Health Care Value Hub developed the 2022 Healthcare Affordability
State Policy Scorecard (the “Scorecard”), which this report used to format the following materials.
The Scorecard evaluated states on their efforts to ensure affordable health care for their residents
across several key domains: curbing excess prices, reducing low-value care, expanding coverage,
and reducing out-of-pocket costs.
Maryland earned 48.5 out of 80 possible points on the Scorecard, ranking 10th out of 50 states
and the District of Columbia.
As a leader in health policy, Maryland performed well in many areas,
though it still has room for improvement. This report provides an in-depth analysis of health care
affordability in Maryland, examining the factors that contribute to rising health care costs and
potential solutions to address it. By exploring these four domains, this report aims to provide
insights and recommendations to help policymakers and stakeholders improve access to
affordable health care for all Maryland residents.”
Read the full report on the Health Care Value Hub’s website
Last modified: August 4, 2023
