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HealthCare.gov is the official government site dedicated to helping people navigate health insurance options as well as to understand the provisions of the recent Affordable Care Act. The site is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. Visit the site to find the public and private health options available to you locally. A two-minute video explains the provisions of the new law and there is a tab on the home page that provides more in depth information about it. A timeline showing the ongoing implementation of its provisions is also on the site.

 

Coverage Information for Maryland residents with preexisting conditions is available from the Maryland Health Insurance Plan website. 

 

Maryland Access Point (MAP)
Here, you can assess, learn and search for long-term support information and services throughout Maryland. MAP also has an assessment for people who may not know their needs.  The assessment can help narrow down service needs and provide a list of local providers for these services

 

Maryland Health Education and Advocacy Unit
The Health Education and Advocacy Unit of the Consumer Protection Division (Maryland Attorney General) helps consumers whose health plan has refused to cover a medical procedure or to pay for a medical service that has already been provided. Assists consumers in resolving billing disputes with hospitals, doctors, insurance companies and other health care providers. Other assistance the Unit can provide includes helping consumers negotiate refunds for medical equipment that is defective or was never delivered, and seeking repairs for medical equipment and other health care products. The Unit uses the process of mediation to attempt to resolve these consumer complaints. This page tells you how to file a complaint online. If you would prefer to file your complaint by mail, click here for instructions for using the printed complaint forms.

 

 

Affordable Care Act

 

 

Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight - United States Department of Health and Human Services

The Office responsible for implementing many of the provisions of the legislation that address private health insurance. The OCIIO is also responsible for ensuring compliance with the new insurance market rules, such as the prohibitions on rescissions and on pre-existing condition exclusions for children. It will oversee the new medical loss ratio rules and will assist states in reviewing insurance rates. The Affordable Care Act calls for the establishment of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plans (CO-OP) Program, which will foster the creation of qualified nonprofit health insurance issuers to offer qualified health plans in the individual and small group markets.

 

Maryland Health Connection
Maryland’s state-based health insurance exchange, scheduled to open in October 2013. Goal is to make health insurance affordable and accessible for all Maryland residents, including the approximately 730,000 or 14 percent of Maryland’s 5.8 million residents who are currently uninsured.

 

National Alliance on Mental Illness
Federal health care reform addresses many of the challenges people have in getting and keeping health
care coverage. This site includes a chart that identifies key provisions in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that offer meaningful benefits to individuals and families who live with mental illness.

 

 

         

Finding Medical Services and Facilities

 

Baltimore County Department of Health
Major portal to all the health-related services provided by Baltimore County to Baltimore County residents, find locations of local health centers, answers to frequently asked health questions, health awareness and education and other health-related information.

  

Maryland Hospital Performance Evaluation Guide - Maryland Health Care Commission
Guide designed to assist consumers and their families in obtaining quality hospital based care.

 

Consumer Guide to Long Term Care- Maryland Health Care Commission
There are many care options. The section Preparing for Long Term Care outlines the possibilities.

 

Health Plan Qualitiy and Performance Reports - Maryland Health Care Commission [PDF] Opens in new window
Provides information to help evaluate HMOs and PPOs operating in Maryland. For individuals who are deciding which health plan to join, or for employers who are choosing which HMO/PPO to offer their employees.

            

Healthgrades:Guide to America's Hospitals and Doctors

Finding a Doctor

 

Board of Physician Quality Assurance of Maryland - Practitioner Profile Search
Information about the training and specialities of physicians licensed in the state of Maryland. Locate a practitioner in your area.                                                   

                                                                                         

Directory of Physicians in the United States 
Locate this title in BCPL.

 

Maryland Physician Search
From the Maryland Board of Physicians

        

Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists
Locate this title in BCPL.

                                                  

America's Top Doctors

 

Maryland Flu Preparedness

 

Find a Flu Shot
Flu shot locator from Maxim Health Systems to find additional flu shot locations by zip code.

 

Flu Shot Clinics in the County
The Baltimore County Department of Aging offers flu shots.

 

Flu.Maryland.gov - Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
This powerful site provides access to Maryland and Federal resources, FAQ's about swine flu prevention, up to date bulletins and statistics and much more.

 

 

         

 

Medical Assistance

 

 

Connections: Children, Youth and Family Resources
Lists local organizations and agencies that provide a wide variety of services geared to your physical well-being including dental services, free or low-cost health clinics, medical transportation and more

 

Health Insurance Programs for Children, Pregnant Women, Families and Caretaker Relatives - Baltimore County Department of Health
Provides access to affordable quality health care to uninsured/underinsured Baltimore County residents through referral services, community resources, and education programs.

 

Health Services for the Uninsured - Baltimore County Department of Health

 

Medical Financial Assistance
from Connections: Children Youth and Family Resources
Lists local organizations and agencies that can provide information and assistance with financial aid for medical issues and for prescriptions

 

Maryland Medical Assistance Program -Maryland Department of Health and  Mental Hygiene
This site provides access to health care services for many of the State’s low-income residents. Individuals may be eligible for services through the Maryland Medicaid Program, the Maryland Children’s Health Program or the Maryland Primary Adult Care Program (PAC), depending upon income and other factors

 

 

       

Medical Conditions and Diseases

 

 

Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities
Contact information for services and issues regarding accessibility, advocacy, counseling, education, employment, emergency assistance, equipment, housing, income, legal assistance, medical services,  recreation, transportation, parking, and other services for adults and children with disabilities.

 

Black's Medical Dictionary
Locate this title in BCPL.

 

Infectious Diseases and Environmental Health - Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene 
Provides facts and data on infectious disease and environmental health. Provides information and resources for Marylanders to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, to ensure food safety, to facilitate access to services for TB, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, rabies and other transmissible diseases.

 

Maryland Poison Center 
The Maryland Poison Center is certified by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) as a regional poison center providing poisoning triage, treatment, education, and prevention services to all Marylanders. This service is staffed by pharmacists and nurses, who have specialized clinical toxicology training, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
                                                                                                                                                                                 

Maternal and Child Health - Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Family Health Administration

Information and links to Maryland resources, from the Maryland Family Planning and Reproductive Health Program

 

 

2011 Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment

 

Medical Journals and Online Resources

 

The links below are to other online electronic resources that contain valuable health and medical-related information:

                                   

Nursing Resource Center 
This resource is designed to help nursing and health students and offers comprehensive content including disease and conditions overviews; nursing assessments for anatomical systems, interventions, diagnostic tests, drug monographs, and medical animations. A library card registered with Baltimore County Public Library is needed for access.

 

MEDLINEplus
Health information from the National Library of Medicine. Extensive information from the National Institute of Health and other sources on over 500 diseases and conditions. Lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and dictionaries, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials.

 

Network of Care for Behavioral Health - Baltimore County Bureau of Behaviorial Health
A resource for individuals, families and agencies concerned with behavioral health. It provides information about services, laws, and related news, as well as communication tools and other features. The Library area contains articles, fact sheets and reports on mental health issues produced by the leading experts and organizations in the health field.

 

 

      

Medicines and Drug Information

 

Baltimore County Prescription Discount Card
A program to provide a discount off the retail price of prescription drugs. Available to all Baltimore County residents. 

 

Maryland Pharmacy Board 
Links to FDA alerts and notices, drug-interaction information, pending health legislation, medical news and information, consumer education, and other drug-related information. Verify pharmacist licenses.

 

Maryland Senior Prescription Drug Assistance Program 
A subsidy program established by the Maryland Health Insurance Plan (MHIP) through the Medicare Modernization Act and the Health Insurance Safety Net Act of 2002, to provide premium assistance to moderate-income Maryland residents for the purchase of outpatient prescription drugs and who are eligible for Medicare and are enrolled in a prescription drug plan.

 

Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
An on-line resource for locating drug and alcohol abuse treatment programs.
 

Physicians Desk Reference