Tom Leitzer, the Community Partnership Manager for Priority Partners, a state-funded Managed Care Organization established by Johns Hopkins HealthCare, spoke about HealthChoice, Maryland's Medicaid-funded program to provide free health care to the uninsured who qualify based on income and assets. Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) provide for a full range of health care services. There are currently 7 participating in HealthChoice. Over half a million state residents are currently enrolled, and another 200,000 who would probably qualify if they applied.  People apply to the state through their local health departments, and the state determines eligibility before assigning them to one of the MCOs. Services include preventative care, drug & alcohol help, and mental health counseling.  It covers children and low-income adults, as long as they are U.S. citizens, under 65, and residents of Maryland.  Lean more at www.dhmh.state.md.us/mma/healthchoice.

George Spencer spoke about Patents and Trade Marks, detailing the steps in obtaining and protecting them.  Patents are contracts between an inventor and the government. Once a Patent has been obtained by an inventor, the right to use that same Patent is excluded from every other inventor. That is why it takes over 5000 individuals to approve a Patent that typically lasts for 20 years.  It’s beneficial to apply for a Copyright Certificate which will serve as protection to your Patent.  Typically, if a Patent is compromised by another inventor, before any legal action is taken, the parties can amicably resolve their differences. If however, this is not resolved, all Patent cases are tried in a Federal court.  A Federal court is capable of deeming a specific Patent invalid based on their specifications and use. It is interesting to know that there is no international Patent.  All Patents are National and governed by rules and regulations of each individual Country.