ANNAPOLIS — Two major health care maladies will be treated by Maryland’s legislators when they convene next month for the 416th session: the demise of non-profit health insurance in Maryland, and a budget deficit that threatens Medicaid and mental health programs

BALTIMORE – Stepping into Harriet Berlin’s Artistic Costume and Design Shop is like walking through the “Wardrobe” of C

ANNAPOLIS – The Maryland Department of Agriculture’s animal health program is “totally incapable” of handling a large-scale animal health emergency without considerable help from other state and federal agencies, State Veterinarian Roger Olson told members of the Senate Health Subcommittee this week

ANNAPOLIS – The tale of Maryland’s few months dealing with bioterrorism can be told in statistics – two dead of anthrax out of 85 cases investigated, 30 mail rooms tested for spores, 3,000 antibiotic prescriptions dispensed to workers believed to have been exposed

ANNAPOLIS – Tens of thousands of low-income senior citizens have found relief from high medicine costs through Maryland’s newly expanded prescription drug relief program, health department officials reported to the General Assembly

ANNAPOLIS – In the 1950s, the rise-and-fall wail of the air-raid siren was the signal to “duck and cover” in case of nuclear attack

ANNAPOLIS – One of the most spectacular Leonid meteor showers in decades will be visible from North America early Sunday morning, astronomers say – a tantalizing forecast for Maryland skywatchers

ANNAPOLIS – Maryland’s health department plans to take back $20 million to $26 million in nursing home money as part of an emergency Medicaid budget reduction package due to take effect next month, officials said

ANNAPOLIS – Garrett County Medicaid recipients will still be able to participate in managed care this January, officials confirmed Tuesday, thanks to United HealthCare’s decision to expand service into the county

ANNAPOLIS – Key points to the model state bill proposed by the Center for Law and the Public’s Health include:

– Governor may declare 30-day state of public health emergency, and extend it if needed