(2) Involve the private health insurance market in the delivery of health
insurance coverage [in accordance with subsection (b) of this section] TO
LOW-INCOME, UNINSURED CHILDREN IN THE STATE AND THEIR FAMILIES;

(3) Identify and aggressively pursue a mix of State, federal, and private
funds, including grants, to enable the Foundation to provide and fund health care
insurance coverage [in accordance with subsection (b) of this section];

(4) Develop methods to minimize the effect of employers or employees
terminating employer sponsored health insurance or privately purchased health care
insurance; and

(5) Coordinate its activities with the other necessary entities in order to
address the health care needs of the low-income, uninsured children of the State and
their families.

[(b) The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, in consultation with the
Maryland Insurance Administration, the Health Care Access and Cost Commission,
the Foundation, the business community, and the health care insurance industry
shall:

(1) Conduct a study to determine the feasibility and cost effectiveness of
providing health insurance coverage through the private market to uninsured
children and their families, and in particular to those individuals with a family
income between 185 percent of the federal poverty level and 200 percent of the federal
poverty level, as part of the Program established under § 15-301 of this subtitle; and

(2) Recommend programs to provide health insurance coverage through
the private market to uninsured children and their families that would qualify for the
enhanced federal match provided for under Title XXI of the Social Security Act as part
of the Program established under § 15-301 of this subtitle.

(c) The Department shall report on the result of its study and its
recommendations to the Governor, and in accordance with § 2-1246 of the State
Government Article, to the General Assembly, on or before December 1, 1998 and each
December 1 thereafter.]

Chapter 110 of the Acts of 1998

[SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene shall submit to the federal Health Care Financing
Administration a State plan to implement the Children and Families Health Care
Program established under § 15-301 of the Health - General Article.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 15-301 of the Health - General Article, the
Department shall not be required to include a description of the use of employer
sponsored health benefit plans, individual health benefit plans, or family contribution
amount requirements in the State plan that the Department submits to the federal
Health Care Financing Administration. However, the Department shall submit to the
federal Health Care Financing Administration a proposed amendment to the State
plan, to include the use of employer sponsored health benefit plans and individual
health benefit plans for individuals with a family income above 185 percent of the