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Final Regulations: CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT

State law passed in 2007 goes into effect on February 1st, 2008

The final regulations to implement the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007 have been released by Maryland's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which require Maryland businesses to prohibit smoking in indoor areas open to the public, in outdoor areas that meet the “indoor area’ definition, and to post signs in areas where smoking is prohibited.  The regulations go into effect on February 1, 2008.

“The adoption of these regulations is the final step in making Maryland a smoke-free state,” said DHMH Secretary John M. Colmers.  “They offer clear guidance for businesses in what they need to do.  The experience of other states is that a smoke free environment is a win-win for the business community as well as the health of Maryland residents.”

For more information, please visit the Community Health Administration website.

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News & Events

 

Change in Prior Authorization
Effective July 1, 2007, Maryland Physicians Care will no longer require prior authorization for SUBOXONE or SUBUTEX utilization, and are now only requesting notification of their use. The SUBOXONE/SUBUTEX notification form is very brief, and requires information such as member demographics as well as a brief outline of the treatment plan and expected prognosis. Maryland Physician's Care requests that physicians complete this form and fax it within one week of treatment with SUBOXONE/SUBUTEX.

 

June 2007 Report Released
Center for a Healthy Maryland releases Improving Patient Access to Buprenorphine Treatment through Physician Offices in Maryland, which examines health plan policies and procedures for treating drug addiction and the experiences of physicians in offering buprenorphine treatment.

 

 
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Maryland Buprenorphine Initiative
Improving Access to Office-Based Treatment for Opioid Addiction

Buprenorphine, a medication approved by the FDA in October 2002, is used to treat addiction to opioid drugs such as heroin and morphine or prescription painkillers like Oxycontin, Demerol and Vicodin. As an alternative to other treatment modalities for opioid addiction, patients can be managed in a physician’s office. This medication has been proven to be safe and effective, but physicians need to be specially certified to prescribe it, and also must meet certain requirements to provide office-based treatment.

Since 2003, with the assistance of an Advisory Committee of experts in buprenorphine therapy, the Center for a Healthy Maryland has been at the forefront of attempts to educate and engage Maryland physicians in providing office-based treatment for opioid addiction.

For more information about the Maryland Buprenorphine Initiative, click here.

Maternal Depression - Improving Diagnosis and Treatment in Maryland

Maternal depression occurs anywhere from pregnancy up to 12 months following delivery, and is the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting 10–15 percent of all women. With support from the Aetna Foundation, the Center for a Healthy Maryland is building on previous efforts to enable clinicians to diagnose and manage maternal depression by increasing their awareness of the disorder and providing them with tools for use with their pregnant and postpartum patients.

 

Improved diagnosis and treatment of maternal depression will result in more women getting the necessary care to better care for themselves, their infants and family.

Resources

Postpartum Depression Helpline:  1-800-773-6667 – available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

FASD – Preventing Alcohol Use During Pregnancy

 

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a broad term that describes the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behavioral, and/or learning disabilities with possible life-long implications. FASD is also one of the leading known preventable causes of mental retardation and birth defects.

MedChi performed a pilot project using the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review approach to examine why some women drink during pregnancy, the current services and resources available, and opportunities for working with the community to assist at-risk women in avoiding alcohol use during pregnancy.

The Maryland FASD Coalition is working to increase awareness of the effects of alcohol use during pregnancy among health and social services professionals, substance abuse treatment program staff, juvenile services agency staff, the faith community, businesses and industry. Please visit the Maryland FASD Coalition at www.FASDMD.org.

Smoking Cessation

Smoking is an addiction. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.  Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which are carcinogenic (cancer-causing). Nationally, smoking results in more than 5.6 million years of potential life lost each year.  Every year 1,000 nonsmoking Marylanders die from diseases caused by secondhand smoke.  22 states, including Maryland, have passed laws that require smoke-free restaurants and bars.

Want help to quit smoking? Visit Maryland’s free tobacco quit line at www.smokingstopshere.com.

Smoke Free Maryland Coalition

Smoke Free Maryland is a statewide coalition of concerned organizations and individuals working to reduce tobacco-caused illness and death. The Smoke Free Maryland Coalition has operated through grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and support from MedChi and the Center for a Healthy Maryland for more than 10 years. The Coalition has been instrumental in the recent passage of the Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007, which will take effect in Maryland on February 1, 2008.

The Coalition works to:

  • protect your right to breathe clean, safe, smoke-free air in all public places and workplaces.
  • save lives by advocating for a higher tobacco tax and dedicating state revenue to a comprehensive, tobacco use prevention and cessation program.
  • hold merchants responsible who sell tobacco to our young people.
  • stop tobacco companies from targeting the poor, the young, and all people of color in their marketing.

For more information about the Smoke Free Maryland Coalition, please contact:

Kari Appler at kari@smokefreemd.org or visit their website at www.smokefreemd.org.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Resources

Contact Information

For more information on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Programs, please contact:

Elaine Gisriel, M.S.
Project Coordinator
Phone: 410-539-0872 or 00-492-1056, ext. 415
Fax: 410-649-4131
e-mail: egisriel@medchi.org

 

  
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