[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6360710,"mediaKeyId","2174301-d74a5df3c5c98c405c3d7c10c6f7f685","parentId",2174301,"title","Sponsor says tax credit for older long‑term care policyholders could save Medicaid dollars","audioSeconds",343,"startMs",803000,"endMs",1146000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174301-d74a5df3c5c98c405c3d7c10c6f7f685&start=803&end=1146","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174301-d74a5df3c5c98c405c3d7c10c6f7f685/thumbnail_803000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6360710/Maryland/Sponsor-says-tax-credit-for-older-longterm-care-policyholders-could-save-Medicaid-dollars","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360710-d858c06ff9475fe376e3e0f0cc4a66d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184417&Signature=lajF5xTrhqbSiBYm-9ZOBFqijFo1eOv~Ds2Fnp3TuI0NCYpVJWzR66MwDu2CopbUykJfxRyJeuNEY6WGt8dWlSttNI70kpxyTo5nxRfpJqXFepx44jA-Pegps~~ooZ-5RmubQ7BupYV4esQARNT4xytfcjkVI4Ul7I1APj6XJyCyaerqkXrwRBAvljd9J0ZvCTRZImdrPhFivX6J0FeG97eM-DGviHKLkU~FIdMMZsvSatrstp2hGS7~vandxgDYUHUn6uoBhQwuIXrYBK3TrBs8s6wsBaxgOSKuGlhQR~ifNyAk5wuiYo3R4hUBeguAk9U2ag1Bzhxtocg4NOnulg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maryland General Assembly - Ways and Means","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","\"There's a population of Maryland seniors who were wronged by the insurance industry,\" Delegate Vaughn Stewart told the Ways and Means Committee while presenting House Bill 327 on Jan. 30.

Stewart, the bill sponsor, said the proposal would provide a tax credit averaging about $400 annually to older, relatively low‑income Marylanders (he described the pool as those 85 and older and making under $100,000) who purchased long‑term care insurance before 2004. He said insurers underpriced policies in the 1990s and early 2000s, creating later premium increases he described as unaffordable for policyholders on fixed incomes.

Stewart outlined a fiscal rationale for the credit: he estimated the program would cost about $3 million annually if roughly 7,500 people claimed the credit, while an existing but underused long‑term care insurance credit costs roughly $2 million a year. Stewart argued that even modest retention of private coverage could reduce Medicaid enrollments and yield net savings because a small number of avoided Medicaid entrants (he repeatedly cited a calculation that five people remaining on private policies could tip the program to net savings) would avoid much larger Medicaid costs.

Stewart said he had modeled the proposal with the Maryland Insurance Administration and the insurance industry and offered to provide supporting calculations to committee members. Committee members asked clarifying questions but did not move to a vote; the sponsor told the panel he would share detailed numbers by follow‑up email.

Why it matters: The sponsor framed HB 327 as narrowly targeted relief for a small, aging population whose long‑term care policies faced repeated premium hikes. The fiscal argument rests on estimates of the program's take‑up rate and the Medicaid cost of institutional long‑term care; those inputs were discussed in the hearing and flagged by the sponsor as available for committee review, but they were not adopted as committee findings during the session.

The hearing concluded with no formal committee vote recorded on Jan. 30.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","W&M Committee Session, 1/30/2025 #1","oneSentenceSummary","Delegate Vaughn Stewart told the committee House Bill 327 would offer a focused tax credit to older Marylanders who bought long‑term care policies priced on faulty actuarial assumptions in the 1990s and 2000s; he presented an argument that modest retention of private policies could yield Medicaid savings.","taxTitle","Ways and Means Committee, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland","taxId",15064,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6360714,"Delegate Wells urges support for bill to clarify West North Avenue Development Authority powers",133,645000,778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2174301-d74a5df3c5c98c405c3d7c10c6f7f685&start=645&end=778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2174301-d74a5df3c5c98c405c3d7c10c6f7f685/thumbnail_645000.jpg","/articles/6360714/Maryland/Delegate-Wells-urges-support-for-bill-to-clarify-West-North-Avenue-Development-Authority-powers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6360714-15a8fdba768be57de0e0d78f3f938917/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184417&Signature=Xve1jMsAeF1~9ibR71BpmP3osS0PwDGNTXwO2NWiQjOOOJBOed7-c~0WkT-jDSIkVrg7JVIZy76Tm2EfZ2rkZUDYk-D6zlSW42R63qpsOWEhRc8tR7sR5fQugrqWuP8Lu9xK4Xlv9HQl~qQYlguHnWCeWFF6Lt~tjHgdPF16514Zz874UF1yoWZHhnsG96xE0HNR89qJutDRIngNj1uWT8F5iL6nODlgEb8Ybb6wOaJBieoC1w2BZ62ggxZ3onMzP587PHWy2Y48FsxtMz8iWfWz6Xf2Gvyhaxz1FnrX9znqVyudePou-PGC4Azn5IHm2UOqT-jeyINrkUesJ0H8Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","For the record, I am Delegate Wells, and I'm here to express my strong support for House Bill 258, which seeks to enhance administration and membership of the West North Avenue Development Authority, Delegate Wells told the House Ways and Means Committee on Jan. 30.

The bill would clarify the authority's powers and duties, create the Western Avenue Development Fund as a special nonlapsing fund, exempt the authority from certain legal provisions and provide tax exemptions under defined circumstances, Delegate Wells said. He told the committee the authority submitted a West North Avenue comprehensive plan on Jan. 31, 2024, that focuses on “restorative justice and equitable community development” and prioritizes housing, public spaces, mobility and economic opportunities for one of Baltimore City's most disadvantaged areas.

The authority was created to “advance housing, economic development, transportation, and neighborhood revitalization along the 600 to the 3200 blocks of West North Avenue,” Wells said, and he argued the catchment area has experienced long-term neglect. Wells cited a committee figure that “56% of vacant residential and commercial properties in Baltimore City are located within the catchment area of West North Avenue development.”

Wells said the legislation strikes a balance by clarifying the authority's role while “instituting necessary limitations” and by requiring specific actions for the authority’s financial operations. He urged a favorable report and noted the committee had passed a version of the bill the prior year.

Committee members asked no questions during the hearing and the chair closed testimony on House Bill 258 after Wells’ remarks. The bill remains at the committee hearing stage and no formal vote was taken on Jan. 30.

Why it matters: The proposal targets a concentrated area of Baltimore City and would create a dedicated, nonlapsing fund meant to support long-term revitalization work. Proponents say the changes will help coordinate investment and provide local tax tools for a neighborhood the sponsor described as historically underserved.","Delegate Wells told the Ways and Means Committee that House Bill 258 would clarify powers, create a nonlapsing Western Avenue Development Fund and provide tax exemptions intended to support a comprehensive plan for revitalization along West North Avenue.","actionData","errors"]

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Sponsor says tax credit for older long‑term care policyholders could save Medicaid dollars

Delegate Wells urges support for bill to clarify West North Avenue Development Authority powers