Healthy Howard

A group of over 200 Howard County residents pushing a new fall agenda to benefit unemployed youth and the aging got quick promises of support from Democratic County Executive Ken Ulman but not from Trent Kittleman, his Republican challenger. People Acting Together in Howard, a coalition of 15 churches, one mosque and several citizens groups, wanted both Ulman and Kittleman to support their plans for more aggressive youth employment programs and more help to allow the elderly to stay in their homes.

Crafting a new way to extend medical services to uninsured residents has proved tricky for county health officials. The health staff was initially overwhelmed in October, when 1,100 people came to the East Columbia library during nine sessions to enroll in Healthy Howard Inc. All but 66 turned out to be eligible for four existing insurance plans for limited-income people. Now county health officer Dr. Peter Beilenson has come up with a new plan to reopen enrollment while trying to counter criticism from County Council member Greg Fox, a Fulton Republican.

The small number of residents found to be eligible for Howard's new health access program for the uninsured during the initial enrollment period has prompted a call from a County Council member to consider redirecting some of the money for the initiative. Given the difficult economic climate, part of the $500,000 set aside for Healthy Howard this year could be of more use going to traditional nonprofits, Councilman Greg Fox said Monday at a budget briefing for the council. During October, the first month of enrollment, about 1,100 people registered for Healthy Howard.

A health day is scheduled for Sunday Healthy Howard Day, a day of outdoor physical activities, health education and screenings, will be held from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Park in Ellicott City. Games, crafts, performances and a Healthy Kid Zone specifically designed for children are also planned. The event is presented by We Promote Health and supported by County Executive Ken Ulman, the Howard County school system, Howard County Health Department, Howard County Chamber of Commerce, Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Howard County General Hospital, the Columbia Association, the Y of Central Maryland and the Horizon Foundation.

With the economy in trouble, 50-year old Elizabeth McCarthy is unemployed, but she and her husband Jay, 57, aren't worried about health care. The Ellicott City couple were among the first of more than 1,100 Howard County residents who flocked to apply for the county's new health access plan for the uninsured when it launched last month. "It takes an awful lot of stress off you," said Jay, a self-employed furniture finisher. Elizabeth added, "We've gone without when we should have had care."

The Greater Howard County CROP Hunger Walk will be held at 2 p.m. today, starting and finishing at the Oakland Mills Interfaith Center, 5885 Robert Oliver Place in Columbia. It's approximately a three-mile walk. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. Last year's walk raised about $17,000, and organizers hope to raise $25,000 this year. About 250 walkers are expected, and everyone is invited to participate. The event raises money to help stop hunger and poverty in the community and around the world through self-help initiatives.

Healthy Howard Inc. recently announced the hiring of Erin Reiney to coordinate community resources for the county's health access plan, scheduled to be launched Sept. 24. The nonprofit organization will manage the Healthy Howard Plan, which will provide access to comprehensive health services to 2,000 uninsured county residents. Reiney, a Baltimorean who has a master's degree in public health, said she is encouraged by the response she has received from community organizations in her first few weeks on the job. Responsible for compiling a list of businesses that are willing to offer free or reduced-cost services to plan participants, Reiney said she is excited about building the program from the ground up. "We have an ambitious and innovative goal," Reiney said of the county's plan to help uninsured residents manage their health care costs through lifestyle changes that will prevent expensive hospital stays.

Howard County's innovative health access plan for uninsured residents will also have a dental component, county officials announced yesterday. Residents who enroll in the Healthy Howard program, due to begin Oct. 1, will be eligible for discounts of 35 percent to 50 percent from 75 dentists and orthodontists who practice in the county and participate in the Aetna dental program, said Mike Bucci, marketing vice president for Aetna, who made the announcement in...

One of the most frightening financial burdens Howard County government is facing perhaps gets the least attention - the cost of future employees' retirement health benefits. Created by a change in federal accounting rules several years ago that require every state and local government in the United States to put aside cash for those costs up front instead of paying them as they occur, Howard's initial estimate of the county government's bill as County Executive Ken Ulman took office in late 2006 was a whopping $477 million.