By Greg Hazley
Maryland is mulling outside agency support to study PR and advertising for its healthcare exchange set up under the federal healthcare reform law.
The state issued an RFP on Aug. 5 to study and make recommendations for how the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange should conduct its outreach communications.
O'Malley at the bill signing ceremony in April. |
Gov. Martin O’Malley signed the exchange’s creation into law on April 12. The public entities will serve as marketplaces for citizens to buy insurance as outlined under the federal healthcare law, which requires their creation by January 2014.
The Maryland law which created the exchange requires a report to the state’s general assembly on its PR strategy by December 21. It had received $7.2M in federal funds as of late May to implement the exchange, with more grants possible as progress is made.
The state wants a final report on PR options for the firm hired by the RFP process by November 15.
A seven-month contract overseen by the Governor’s Office of Health Care Reform is planned for the evaluation.
In addition to the RFP, the state is assembling a public-private steering committee to oversee and review strategic communications for healthcare reform in the state.
Proposals are due Aug. 26. Download the RFP (PDF).
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