LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO DISCUSS HEALTH ENTERPRISE ZONES PROGRAM AT GOVERNING MAGAZINE SUMMIT ON HEALTHY LIVING

 LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO DISCUSS HEALTH ENTERPRISE ZONES PROGRAM AT GOVERNING MAGAZINE SUMMIT ON HEALTHY LIVING

FOR PLANNING PURPOSES

CONTACT:        
Lauren Gibbs
Office: 410-260-3847 410-260-3847> 
Cell: 410-570-3115 410-570-3115> 

LT. GOVERNOR BROWN TO DISCUSS

HEALTH ENTERPRISE ZONES PROGRAM

AT GOVERNING MAGAZINE SUMMIT ON

HEALTHY LIVING

ATLANTA, Ga. (December 10, 2012) – TOMORROW, Lt. Governor Anthony Brown will be interviewed at the GOVERNING Magazine Summit on Healthy Living <http://www.governing.com/events/GOVERNING-Summit-on-Healthy-Living--2012.html> about Maryland’s new Health Enterprise Zones (HEZ) program to reduce health disparities, an initiative developed by the Lt. Governor and passed by the General Assembly during the 2012 Legislative Session. This year’s Summit brings together state and local officials with innovative non-profit groups, professional associations, thought leaders and the GOVERNING editorial team. With a focus on outcomes, the event gives public sector leaders an opportunity to learn about how to connect, design, and implement healthy living programs and strategies for their communities.

The FY 2013 State budget includes $4 million to establish a pilot program of two to four Health Enterprise Zones throughout Maryland. The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) issued a joint Call for Proposals earlier this year.  Applications were reviewed competitively, and final designation awards will be made over the next few weeks by DHMH Secretary Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein.  For more information on the HEZ program visit http://dhmh.maryland.gov/healthenterprisezones/SitePages/Updates.aspx <http://dhmh.maryland.gov/healthenterprisezones/SitePages/Updates.aspx> .

Lt. Governor Brown leads the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s efforts to reduce costs, expand access, and improve the quality of care for all Marylanders. Under the leadership of Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown, Maryland has implemented reforms that have expanded health coverage to over 341,000 Marylanders, half of whom are children, established Maryland’s Health Benefit Exchange, and put the State in position to maximize the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  Independent analysis by the Hilltop Institute at the University of Maryland Baltimore County has found that implementation of the ACA will benefit the state’s budget by $672 million through 2020, generate more than $3 billion in annual economic activity, cut the number of uninsured in half, and create more than 26,000 jobs.

WHAT:       Lt. Governor Brown to Discuss Health Enterprise Zones   Program at GOVERNING Magazine Summit

WHERE:     Atlanta Botanical Garden, Day Hall
                    1345 Piedmont Avenue N.E.
                    Atlanta, Georgia

WHEN:       TOMORROW, Tuesday, December 11, 2012

                    10:45 AM