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Gov. Hogan Enacts Emergency Legislation To Enhance Ongoing Response To Coronavirus Pandemic

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) -- Gov. Larry Hogan signed Thursday emergency legislation in an effort to enhance the ongoing response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Protection Act of 2020 specifies additional measures that Gov. Hogan may take to address the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, including facilitating access and delivery of health care.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

The bill establishes protections for those directly affected by the coronavirus and State of Emergency, including empowering the Gov. Hogan to:

  • Prohibit cost-sharing by an insurance carriers for COVID-19 testing and associated costs
  • Establish or waive telehealth protocols
  • Require carriers and Medicaid to cover a COVID-19 immunization (should one be developed) and any associated costs, without cost-sharing, for certain patients
  • Work with Maryland Department of Health (MDH), the Maryland Insurance Commissioner, and the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to minimize disruption in enrollment in health insurance and Medicaid
  • Allow MDH to offer more flexibility in staffing during the state of emergency
  • Prohibit employers from terminating an employee solely on the basis that the employee has been required to be isolated or quarantined or if the individual leaves employment due to a risk of exposure or infection COVID–19 or to care for a family member due to COVID-19
  • Provides flexibility to the Secretary of Labor to allow workers who have not been terminated to collect unemployment insurance if their employer has been closed due to COVID-19, if they have been quarantined, or if they are caring for a family member who is quarantined

It also prohibits retailers from unfair price gouging for essential goods like food, fuel, medicine, medical supplies, and cleaning products and affirms that such action is subject to the enforcement by the attorney general.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department's website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ's coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

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