Maryland sets insurance marketplace plan benchmark; Other state health law news

In Maryland, a board sets a state employee health plan as the benchmark for others in the marketplace. In the meantime, New Mexico examines what it has to gain from a Medicaid expansion, and Virginians give a thumbs down to the health law.

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Md. Health Reform Panel Approves State Health Plan As Benchmark In Health Care Reform
A Maryland panel working on implementing federal health care reform voted Thursday to use the state employee health plan as a benchmark for other plans that will be available to small businesses and individuals for two years, starting in 2014 (9/27).

The Associated Press: Report: NM Gains Initially With Medicaid Expansion
New Mexico's costs of expanding Medicaid under the federal health care overhaul will be offset initially by additional tax revenues because of increased spending on medical services, according to a legislative committee analysis released Thursday. The Legislative Finance Committee released its staff projections as lawmakers began to consider what will be one of the biggest issues confronting Gov. Susana Martinez and the Legislature next year (Massey, 9/27).

Politico Pro: Poll: Virginia Opposes Health Care Law
Virginia voters are poised to deliver a photo-finish on Election Day, but they're decisive about one thing: the Affordable Care Act is a bad deal for the Old Dominion. A Suffolk University poll released Thursday shows that 51 percent of Virginians call the law "generally bad," while just 38 percent believe it's "generally good." Eleven percent remain undecided. By the same token, 50 percent of Virginians oppose a law signed by Republican Gov. Bob McDonnell requiring women seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound. Just 33 percent support that measure and 15 percent were undecided, according to the poll (Cheney, 9/27).