Maryland patching together expanded coverage for the low-income uninsured

Maryland's expansion of its Medicaid program is one of several measures enacted in the past eight months that state officials say will eventually take more than 100,000 residents off the uninsured rolls. The patchwork of healthcare measures not only brings more children and families into Medicaid, but also will help small businesses provide employees with coverage and seniors to buy prescription drugs. Other bills aim to regulate pharmacy benefit managers in an effort to lower drug costs. With little federal action to establish universal healthcare, states such as Maryland have taken the lead in efforts to expand coverage in recent years.