Maryland Governor Signs Health Benefit Exchange Act Including Provision for Stand-Alone Vision Plans

ANNAPOLIS, Md.—Maryland's Governor Martin O'Malley signed the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act of 2012 on May 2, which was amended to allow stand-alone vision plans to participate in the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange as well as the Small Business Health Options Program Exchange.   Maryland is the first state to pass such legislation. The bill was passed by the legislature late last month, as reported in VMail.    "This is a critical development in health care reform and establishes the ideal Exchange structure for ensuring patients continue to have access to their doctors," said Julian Roberts, executive director of NAVCP/NASHO.   Read the article on VMail