OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Martin P. Wasserman, M.D., J.D., Secretary
of Health & Mental Hygiene

201 West Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201—2399 (410) 767-6505

Appointed by the Governor with Senate advice and
consent, the Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene
is responsible for the functions of the Department. The
Secretary also directs and coordinates numerous
boards, commissions, and citizen advisory groups.
The Secretary serves on the Governor's Executive
Council; the Governor's Subcabinet for Children,
Youth, and Families; the Advisory Committee for
Children, Youth, and Families; the Governor's
Council on Adolescent Pregnancy; the Cabinet
Council on Criminal and Juvenile Justice; and the
Governor's Pesticide Council. The Secretary also
serves on the Medical Assistance Advisory Commit-
tee; the State Health Resources Planning Commis-
sion; the Domiciliary Care Facilities Board; the
State Commission on Infant Mortality Prevention;
the State Information Technology Board; the In-
teragency Committee on Aging Services; and the
Interdepartmental Advisory Committee for Minor-
ity Affairs.
Under the Secretary are three deputy secretar-
ies. Each has a specific area of responsibility: Health
Care Policy, Finance, and Regulation; Operations;
and Public Health Services.

PANEL TO REVIEW OFF-LABEL USES OF DRUGS

David S. Ettinger, M.D., Chair
Contact: John W. Southard, M.D. (410) 767-6778

the Panel to Review Oft-Label Uses of Drugs
was authorized in 1994 (Chapter 647, Acts of
1994). The Panel reviews particular cases in which
there is a dispute about medical insurance payments
for off-label use of drugs. The Panel investigates
drugs prescribed for treatments other than those
approved by the federal Food and Drug Admini-
stration and advises the Secretary of Health and
Mental Hygiene whether a particular off-label use
is medically appropriate. The Secretary forwards
Panel recommendations to the Maryland Insurance
Commissioner who may direct insurers to pay for
the drug (Code 1957, Art. 48A, sec. 490AA).
The Panel is appointed by the Secretary of
Health and Mental Hygiene.

HEALTH CAKE POLICY,
FINANCE, & REGULATION

Barbara Shipnuck, Deputy Secretary for Health
Care Policy, Finance, & Regulation

201 West Preston St.
Baltimore, MD 21201—2399 (410) 767-4664

Health Care Policy, Finance, and Regulation
began in 1975 as the Office of Regulatory Services.
By 1981, responsibilities of the Office were as-
signed to the Assistant Secretary for Health Regu-
lation and Policy Analysis and, by 1985, to the
Assistant Secretary for Health Regulation. In 1987,
the position of Deputy Secretary for Policy, Financ-
ing, and Regulation was created, and, in 1988, it
became the Deputy Secretary for Health Care Pol-
icy, Finance, and Regulation.