*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
1992.07.01 :  Maryland Welfare Reform Waiver

Contact:  Larry Dye (202) 401-9215
July 1, 1992

       HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., announced today
approval of the state of Maryland's request to waive portions of
its existing welfare program to implement its Primary Prevention
Initiative.  The initiative requires welfare recipients to receive
certain preventive health services or have their welfare benefits
reduced.  The initiative also requires regular school attendance of
school-age children.
       "Approval of the Maryland initiative is a clear indication
of our commitment to the president's goal to provide timely
consideration of proposals to experiment with new approaches in
public assistance programs," Sullivan said. 
       "The Maryland proposal promotes family responsibility in the
areas of health care and education," said Governor William Donald 
Schaefer.  The state will operate a demonstration project, 
conditioning the receipt of Aid to Families with Dependent Children
benefits in part on specific actions by welfare recipients.
       "Many states are discussing ways to encourage increased
parental responsibility among welfare recipients.  The Maryland
initiative is one of these innovative proposals," said Jo Anne B.
Barnhart, assistant secretary for children and families. 
"Maryland's initiative will be monitored and carefully evaluated so
that we may learn from its implementation."

       "We believe this is an important step toward empowering
people to take responsibility for their own actions," said Carolyn
W. Colvin, secretary, Maryland Department of Human Resources.
       Specifically, under the waiver provided to Maryland: 
     o    Pregnant women must receive regular prenatal care or they
          will not receive an additional allowance of $14 per
          month;
     o    Families with adult and school-age children must receive 
          annual health check-ups or lose an additional allowance
          of $20 per year per person;
     o    Families with pre-school children must meet the minimum 
          standards for the Early and Periodic Screening,
          Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) for such children or
          face reduced welfare grants of $25 per month per child,
          while families with school-age children will face a
          similar reduction if those children attend school less
          than 80 percent of the time without good cause (defined
          as documented illnesses or receipt of counseling services
          by the family).
       Maryland will provide families with information about the
importance of these activities and support services to help them
overcome problems with meeting the requirements.  The required
prenatal and preventive health care are available without cost to
families through the Medicaid program.
       The Maryland project was approved for a five-year period
beginning July 1, *This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated.
1992.  The demonstration will be evaluated, based
on an experimental design, to determine its effectiveness. 
       Maryland is the second state to receive a welfare waiver
this year.  Wisconsin was given a waiver April 10 to implement its
Parental and Family Responsibility Demonstration Program.

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