"DIRECT CONNECTION" IS MADE BY MPT TO SERVE ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

>> Jeff: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT, 1 MILLION TRANSPLANTS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MILESTONE AND HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE MAY BE ABLE TO BENEFIT IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT OPEN ENROLLMENT ON THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE.

JOINING US IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MICHELLE EBERLY PLEP MICHELLE, THANK YOU FORE BEING WITH US AGAIN.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE MARYLANDERS, ESPECIALLY UNINSURED MARYLANDERS TO KNOW ABOUT THIS OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD?

>> Michele Eberle: WELL, JEFF, THANK YOU FOR SOMETHING HAVING US HERE AGAIN THIS YEAR.

WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO SPREAD THE WORD OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR MARYLANDERS IN TERMS OF HEALTH COVERAGE FOR 2023.

SO THIS YEAR, AS YOU KNOW, MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION IS THE PLACE TO GO IF YOU'RE PURCHASING HEALTH INSURANCE ON YOUR OWN.

YOU DO NOT GET IT THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER.

THEN YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO OFFER COVERAGE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR IS A CONTINUATION OF THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH PLANS THAT WE HAVE HAD FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SO FORTUNATELY THE REINSURANCE PROGRAM, WHICH THE STATE COMMITTED TO YEFERL YEARS AGO, REMAINS -- SEVERAL YEARS AGO REMAINS.

FORTUNATELY THROUGH THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WE HAVE AN EXTENSION FOR THREE YEARS.

FOR THE EKD PANNED TAX CREDITS WHICH HELPED ABOUT 45,000 MARYLANDERS GET AFFORDABLE COVERAGE.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE THIS YEAR THE YOUNG ADULT SUBSIDY PROGRAM WHICH ADDS AN ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 34.

SO HEALTH PLANS, QUALITY HEALTH PLANS ARE STILL AFFORDABLE THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: IF SOMEBODY HAS A CURRENT PLAN FOR THE 2022 YEAR AND THEY LIKE WHAT THEY HAVE, DO THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING TO BE RENEE ENROLL FOR RE-ENROLLED FOR 2023 AND SHOULD THEY EXPECT THAT THEIR PREMIUM TO GOING TO CHANGE?

>> Michele Eberle: IN MOST CASES THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO DO ANYTHING, IS ON WE RUN RENEWALS AND WE SEND OUT NOTICES TO INDIVIDUALS, AND IF THEY ARE HAPPY WITH THEIR PLAN, IF THEY DON'T WANT TO SHOP AROUND, THEN THEY CAN JUST SIT BACK AND LET THEIR PLAN RENEW.

IF THEY ARE TOLL TO COME BACK, THEY MAY HAVE TO CHANGE SOME SMIVES INFORMATION, MAYBE THEIR INCOME HAS CHANGED AND WE DO ASK HEM TO COME BACK AND UPDATE THAT INFORMATION.

WE ALWAYS ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, EVEN IF YOU'RE HEAP WITH YOUR PLAN, TO -- HAPPY.

YOUR PLAN, TO COME BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT'S AVAILABLE.

PREMIUMS DID GO UP THIS YEAR ABOUT ON AVERAGE 6%.

MOST PEOPLE WILL BE INSULATED FROM THAT BECAUSE THE TAX CREDITS WILL HELP RELIEVE THAT INCREASE IN THE PREMIUMS.

BUT THE OTHER THING THAT WE HAVE BUILT INTO OUR SYSTEM, WE KEEP IMPROVING YEAR OVER YEAR, IS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO HELP INDIVIDUALS GET TO THE PLAN THAT'S BEST FOR THEM.

MANY TIMES PEOPLE PICK A PLAN THAT HAS THE LOWEST DEDUCTIBLAL OR THE LOWEST OUT OF POCKET COSTS, BUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS TO GO THROUGH THE STEPS AND LOOK AT THE PLANS AND FILL OUT THE INFORMATION, WHETHER YOU USE A LOT OF MEDICAL SERVICES OR JUST A LITTLE, FEW MEMORABILIA SERVICES A MEDICAL SERVICES A YEAR BECAUSE WE HAVE BUILT IN STEPS ON HELP NARROW DOWN THE PLANS PARTICULARLY FOR YOUR NEEDS WOULD BE THE BEST VALUE PLAN FOR YOU.

SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU EITHER TO COME TO OUR WEBSITE, MARYLANDHEALTHCONNECTION.GOV TO GO TO ONE OF OR OVER 1,000 SISTERS, OUR NAVIGATORS, OUR LICENSED AUTHORIZED PRODUCERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, OR TO CALL OUR CALL CENTER WHEN IS 85564828572 AND GET HELP.

WE HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE AVAILABLE TO HELP FIND A HEALTH PLAN THAT'S BEST FOR YOU.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT HEALTH INSURANCE IN MARYLAND, GIVE US A CAULEY NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR YOU CAN SEND A EMAIL TO LIVEQUESTIONS@MPT.ORG.

ANY MICHELLE, I LOOK AT THIS ONCE TO HELP SOMEBODY PURCHASE A PLAN IT'S THING IN THE WORLD.

I MEAN, THERE'S GOLD.

THERE'S SILVER.

THERE'S BRONZE.

THERE'S HMOs.

THERE'S P POSSMENTSs.

THERE ARE DEDUCTIBLES.

THERE'S SOME STUFF THAT GETS AROUND THE DEDUCTIBLAL.

YOU MENTIONED TRYING TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE EASIEST PATH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU?

>> Michele Eberle: THAT'S WHY, JEFF, WE HAVE ADDED THIS YEAR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS IN TERMS WHAT YOUR UTILIZATION IS, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO BUT IN RESORTED THE ORDER, SO WHEN YOU GO TO LOOK FOR A HEALTH HEALTH PLAN, BEHIND THE SCENES WE'RE GOING TO, BASED ON THE INFORMATION YOU GAVE US, YOUR AGE, YOUR UTILIZATION, YOUR INCOME, WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE PLANS HIGHER P IN THE HIERARCHY THAT WOULD BE A BETTER VALUE FOR YOUR NEEDS, AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS LIKE I SAID EARLIER, SOME PEOPLE WILL JUST GO BASED ON THE DEDUCTIBLE, BUT AS YOU JUST MENTIONED THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE THE IN THE LOWER INCOME TEERS TIERS, WHAT WE CALL COST SHARE REDUCTION BUT THOSE ADDITIONAL SAVINGS, AND SO WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE SEE THE FULL PICTURE AND NOT JUST PART OF THE PICTURE, AND, OF COURSE, YOU CAN COMPARE PLANS AND PUT THEM SIDE BY SIDE AND MAKE SURE YOUR DOCTOR THAT YOU WANT TO SEE, WE HAVE A -- YOU PUT IN THE DOCTOR YOU WANT TO GO TO, MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN THE NETWORK.

THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT EVERY YEAR WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE THE TOOLS MORE INTUITIVE TO HELP NARROW DOWN PLANS THAT ARE BEST FOR YOU, AND, OF COURSE, AS WITH ALL OF OUR CARRIERS, WHETHER IT'S UNITED, KAISER, CARE FIRST, WE REALLY MAKE SURE WE'RE GIVING YOU ROBUST COVERAGE.

>> Jeff: AND THOSE THREE INSURANCE COMPANIES ARE CONTINUING TO PARTICIPATE.

>> Michele Eberle: THEY ARE, ALL OF THREE OF THEM.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.

THIS IS GEORGE.

GEORGE, THANKS FOR THE CALL P. GO AHEAD.

>> Ariana Kelly: GOOD EVENING PF I HAVE WHAT I THINK IS A WEIRD SITUATION.

HAVE A HIGH DEDUCTIBLE F ACCOUNT THAT I'M VERY HAPPY WITH BUT THEY DON'T I HAVE GIVE ME THE PREMIUM THAT I'M GOING TO PAY NEXT YEAR UNTIL THE MIDDLE NOVEMBER WHICH MEANS THAT I HAVE HARDLY ANY TIME TO SWITCH, DO ANY RESEARCH AND MAKE A DIFFERENT SELECTION.

WHY AREN'T THEY REQUIRED TO GIVE ME THE NUMBER WELL IN ADVANCE?

>> Jeff: GEORGE, THANKS FOR THE CALL.

MICHELLE, SHA COMMON?

>> Michele Eberle: I'M NOT CERTAIN IF GEORGE IS TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE OR COMMERCIAL HEALTH PLAN.

THE NOTICES THAT WE SEND OUT FOR RENEWALS, WE SEND THEM OUT OCTOBER 1st, SO IF YOU'RE IN THE INDIVIDUAL MARKETPLACE AND YOU'RE GETTING HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION, YOU SHOULD GET YOUR NOTICE, YOUR RENEWAL NOTICE WITH THE NEW PREMIUM NO LATER THAN BY MID-OCTOBER WHEN THEY HIT ALL THE MAILBOXES.

>> Jeff: AND PEOPLE CAN GO IF THEY WANT TO FIND OUT NOW WHAT THIS MIGHT COST, IT'S ALL THERE.

THERE WAS A POINT WHERE YOU HAD TO REGISTER TO SEE IT, BUT THAT'S GONE, RIGHT?

>> Michele Eberle: YOU HAVE SUCH A GOOD MEMORY.

THAT IS ALL GONE.

WE HAVE THE GET AN ESTIMATE, AND THE ONLY INFORMATION YOU NEED IS YOUR AGE, WHAT COUNTY YOU LIVE IN, YOUR ZIP CODE, AND YOUR INCOME, AND WHETHER YOU WANT JUST HEALTH INSURANCE OR HEALTH AND DENTAL INSURANCE, IF YOU HAVE ANY DEPENDENTS, AND JUST PUTTING THAT INFORMATION IN.

YOU CAN SEE ALL THE PLANS, YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU WOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOR A TAX CREDIT, FOR THE YOUNG ADULT SUBSIDY.

THAT'S VERY -- WE MADE IT VERY EASY TO GO IN AND JUST SHOP AROUND.

>> Jeff: YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT ONE INTERESTING WRINKLE THIS YEAR THAT APPLIES I THINK TO FAMILY SITUATIONS WHERE MAYBE THE HEAD OF THE HOUSEHOLD IS EMPLOYED, BUT THAT PERSON'S INSURANCE WOULD BE VERY EXPENSIVE IF THEY TRIED TO EXTEND IT TO THE REST OF THE FAMILY.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

AND WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?

>> Michele Eberle: SO THIS IS A NEW FEDERAL REGULATION THAT CAME DOWN, A RULE THAT CAME DOWN THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO SEND THE SPOUSE AND THE CHILDREN TO THE EXCHANGE, AND THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS BASED ON IF THE HEALTH POLICY THAT THEY'D BE BUYING FROM AN EMPLOYER FOR THE FAMILY, THE ENTIRE FAMILY, BOTH THE SPOUSES AND THEN THE CHILDREN, IF IT IS NOT AFFORDABLE, AND THERE'S ALL SORTS OF CALCULATIONS AND IT'S A LITTLE COMPLICATED, SO WE JUST SAY IF IN THE PAST YOU HAVE TRIED TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH YOUR EMPLOYER AND THE EMPLOYER COVERS EVER COVERED THE COVERED THE EMPLOYEE COVERAGE BUT THE DPONCHT EMPLOYEE AND THE SPOUSE AND THE CHILDREN WAS REALLY UNAFFORDABLE, COME TO THE EXCHANGE.

WE'VE GOT CALCULATORS IN THERE.

PUT THE INFORMATION IN BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING BRAND NEW JUST WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, AND YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR SOME MORE AFFORDABLE HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THE SPOUSE AND THE DEPENDENTS.

>> Jeff: CALL FROM BALTIMORE COUNTY.

THIS IS ANN.

ANN, UH FOR THE CALL.

GO AHEAD.

THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.

>> Speaker: HELLO.

>> Jeff: HELLO, YOU'RE ON.

>> Speaker: I TAKE A TIER 5 DRUG.

IT'S CALLED DUE PIKDZ ENT.

I'M TRYING TO RETIRE AND GET A MEDICARE PART D PROGRAM.

I GET THIS DRUG WITH A COPAY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THROUGH MY EMPLOYER, WHICH I WILL LOSE WHEN I RETIRE.

OKAY?

I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER EEK SEEKING INFORMATION.

IP I AM GOING TO PUT IN THE DOUGHNUT HOLE OF MEDICARE, IF ANYBODY IS AWARE OF THE DOUGHNUT HOLE, AND I WILL BE PAYING A PHENOMENAL AMOUNT OF MONEY AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE NEED FOR THIS DRUG.

>> Jeff: ANN, I'M AFRAID WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HELP YOU WITH THAT BECAUSE YOU'RE TALKED ABOUT MEDICARE, MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND ALL OF THIS.

THIS IS MORE MORE FOCUSED ON MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE.

BUT LET ME SEE IF MICHELLE HAS ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WITH EXPENSIVE DRUGS AND COMPARING FORMULARIES AND ALL OF THAT.

>> Michele Eberle: THANKS FOR ASKING THAT BECAUSE THERE IS THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND THEY RUN A WHOLE AREA THAT FOCUSES ON SENIOR HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS.

SO I DON'T HAVE THEIR NUMBER BUT LOOK UP MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGING, REACH OUT TO THEM, AND THEY CAN PROVIDE YOU ASSISTANCE AS YOU'RE TRANSITIONING TO MEDICARE.

>> Jeff: PHONE CALL FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THIS IS YVONNE.

YVONNE, THANKS FOR CALLING.

GO AHEAD.

>> Speaker: YES.

THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE PREVIOUS CALLER.

I HAVE AMERICA, STRAIGHT -- MEDICARE, STRAIGHT AMERICA, HOWEVER I'M NOT A SENIOR.

I'M DISABLED.

AND SO I'D LIKE TO GET PART D, BUT ONLY PART D ADDED TO MY PART A AND B.

>> Jeff: GOT.

IT MICHELLE, WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO FIND A MEDICARE EXPERT FOR SOME OF THESE.

BUT YOUR THOUGHTS MAYBE ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN -- YOU KNOW, THE OLD LINE THEY USED TO HAVE ABOUT HMOs THAT THEY WERE GREAT UNLESS YOU GOT SICK, AND THAT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT TOO NEGATIVE, BUT ANY PLAN IS GOING TO DIFFER YOU A LITTLE BIT AND MAYBE IN WAYS THAT YOU CAN'T ANTICIPATE YET.

>> Michele Eberle: AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT IF YOU ARE TREATING OR YOU HAVE A DOCTOR THAT YOU LIKE, BE SURE TO GO IN AND MAKE SURE THAT DOCTOR IS IN THE NETWORK.

YOU CAN GO INTO HEALTH PLANS AND LOOK AT WHAT DRUGS THEY COVER, AND THERE ARE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO LOOK AT THE DRUGS THAT YOU TAKE AND SEE IF THEY'RE COVERED AND WHAT THEIR COST MIGHT BE OR AT LEAST YOU CAN GET INFORMATION THROUGH THAT CARRIER, BUT YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

EACH INSURANCE CARRIER HAS A DIFFERENT NETWORK, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CONTRACTS WITH THEIR PHARMACY ADMINISTRATORS, SO IT'S ALL A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> Jeff: DOES IT MATTER IF SOMEBODY BUYS ONE OF YOUR PLANS, WHICH INFORMALLY ARE KNOWN AS OBAMACARE, IF THEY BUY THROUGH THE EXCHANGE, DIRECT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY OR THROUGH A BROKER?

>> Michele Eberle: GOING INTO A BROKER, THERE'S NO DIFFERENCE, AS LONG AS IT COMES THROUGH MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION.

IF YOU GO DIRECT TO A CARRIER, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THAT IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR A TAX CREDIT OR THE YOUNG ADULT SUBSIDY, YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT.

THE ONLY PLACE YOU CAN GET THAT IS TO GO THROUGH THE STATE MARKETPLACE, WHICH IS MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION.

THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDITS AND THE YOUNG ADULT SUBSIDIES.

WE WORK, AGAIN, WITH ALL THREE OF THE CARRIERS THAT ARE SELLING IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE, AND WE WORK WITH I THINK OVER 1,000 LICENSED PRODUCERS, SO WE CAN GET YOU HELP.

YOU CAN FIND OUT AGAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE CARRIERS AND ABOUT THE PRODUCERS THROUGH OUR CALL CENTER OR THROUGH OUR ONLINE PORTAL OR MOBILE APP.

>> Jeff: HOW HAVE WE DONE WITH THE IMMEDIATE INITIAL GOAL OF OBAMACARE OF REDUCING THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED PEOPLE IN AMERICA AND IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND?

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, DESPITE THE VARIETY OF PROGRAMS, DESPITE THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID, ARE STILL UNCOVERED?

>> Michele Eberle: WE DO.

AND IT'S ABOUT 360,000 INDIVIDUALS WE ESTIMATE.

OUR UNINSURED RATE STILL HOVERS AROUND 6%.

NOW, IN THE EXCHANGE WE'VE HAD TERRIFIC GROWTH SINCE YEAR ONE.

THEN LAST YEAR WE HAD OUR HIGHEST ENROLLEES EVER, LIKE OVER 180,000 INDIVIDUALS.

BUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT THE UNINSURED MARKET FOR THE STATE, YOU'RE LOOKING AT ALL INSURANCE COVERAGE, SO EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR A HEALTH PLAN, DO THEY HAVE HEALTH COVERAGE?

MOST PEOPLE COVERED THROUGH THEIR EMPLOYER.

THEN THERE IS MEDICAID.

THERE IS MEDICARE.

AND THERE'S THE INDIVIDUAL MARKED PLARKT -- MARKETPLACE AND SMALL UHL GROUP IS REALLY EMPLOYER SPONSORED COVERAGE.

SO THERE'S MORE.

THERE'S A BIGGER PICTURE THAN JUST THE MARYLAND HEALTH CONNECTION WHICH IS THE INDIVIDUAL INSURANCE MARK PLACE.

>> Jeff: GIVE ME A WORD ABOUT HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU SELL?

>> Michele Eberle: WE DON'T HAVE ANY HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS ANYMORE.

WE MAY HAVE -- I'M TRYING TO THINK IF WE STILL HAVE ONE THAT'S ELIGIBLE FOR AN SHA BUT I DON'T BELIEVE ANY OF OUR PLANS ARE HIGH DEDUCTIBLE PLANS.

IT IS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE IN AN EMPLOYER SPONSORED COVERAGE.

OUR CATASTROPHIC PLANS, WHICH ARE THE LOWEST PREMIUM, THEY WOULD HAVE THE HIGHEST DEDUCTIBLE, AND THAT'S GENERALLY FOR PEOPLE WHO EITHER WANT TO INSURE MORE RISK THEMSELVES.

THEY WILL GET THAT PLAN.

NOW, ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE DONE WITH THOSE PLANS REASONABLE IS WE'VE ADDED SOME PREDICTABLE COVERAGE SO WE MAKE SURE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SEE A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN WHICH IS A REAL HIGH PRIORITY IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO ESTABLISH RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR PRIMARY MAYOR CARE PHYSICIANS FOR TO THAT PREVENTIVE CARE.

>> Jeff: OPEN ENROLLMENT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF DECEMBER?

>> Michele Eberle: NO, IT'S THROUGH JANUARY 15th NOW.

>> Jeff: JANUARY THE 15th.

LONG RUNWAY.

DON'T DELAY, RIGHT?

>> Michele Eberle: NO, BECAUSE IF YOU WANT COVERAGE FECK JANUARY 1st, YOU'RE -- EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1st, YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO A BY BY DECEMBER THERE'S.

IF YOU COME BETWEEN JANUARY 1st AND JANUARY 15th, YOUR COVERAGE WOULD NOT START UNTIL FEBRUARY 1st.

>> Jeff: MICHELLE EBERLY WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE.

MICHELLE 1 THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> Michele Eberle: THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: AND WE'RE BACK IN A MOMENT.

BLEER AND JOINING US NOW TALK ABOUT YOUR HEALTH IS DR. DANIEL BLAH LOOF MA'AM YOU OF, DIRECTOR OF THE TRANSPLANT PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEBLES AND POLICE OFFICERS SURGERY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

CORK, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM WE MENTIONED THE MILESTONE OF 1MAN TRANSPLANTS.

THAT'S INCREDIBLE.

IT'S OVER SIX DECADES BE A DECADES, SEVEN DECADES.

>> Dr. Daniel Maluf: INCREDIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

A MILLION TRANSPLANTS SIN CREDIBLE.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THE FIRST TRANSPLANT WAS DONE IN THE 50s BUT FIRST LIVER TRANSPLANT WAS DONE IN THE LATE 60s AND THE HEART AND LUNG IN THE '70s SO WE ARE HERE WE ARE 55, 60 YEARS AERATE.

IT'S A LOT OF HEALTH WORK IN THIS COUNTRY, PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND ALL THE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE FAMILY OF TRANSPLANTATION.

>> Jeff: IT DON'T WON'T TAKE US ANOTHER ACCOUNT ASK YEARS ON GET TO THE 2 MILLION-MILESTONE.

>> Dr. Muthu:.

>> Mark: NO, WE GO MUCH FARNT.

THERE ARE 105,000 PEOPLE NEEDING ANG ORGAN AND EVERY MONTH THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY, TO INNOVATION AND THE LOCATION OF ORGANS, I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE MUCH SOONER THUNE THAT.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW YEARS.

>> Jeff: IT MUST I BE AS A PROVIDER, AS A PHYSICIAN, AS A SURGEON, AN INCREDIBLY REWARDING KIND OF MEDICINE TO PRACTICE.

I MEAN WEEK YOU MAKE AN IMMEDIATE CINCHES DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.

>> YES, IT IS AMAZING TO SEE PATIENTS COMING TO GET THE TRANSPLANT AND SEE THOSE PATIENTS LEAVE IN A MUCH BETTER SITUATION, AND THEN IN FACT SEE THEM YEARS LATER WITH COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PATIENTS, AND IT IS VERY REWARDING, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT IN EVERY TRANSPLANT PERSON IN THE COUNTRY.

THEY WILL TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Jeff: PERSONALLY WHAT PROCEDURES DO YOU SPECIALIZE IN?

>> Dr. Daniel Maluf: SO MY SPER EAST SAYS TEES IS LIVER, KINDLE AND ITALIANS PLANT.

LIVER RANS PLANATION IS LIVING DONORS BUT PERFORM OTHER SURGERIES.

I'M INVOLVED HERE AS THE PROGRAM DIRECTOR IN A LUNG AND HEART TRANSPLANTATION TOO.

SO UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HAS A COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPLANT CENTER.

WE TRANSPLANT SIX ORGANS AND IT IS ALSO A CENTER OF INNOVATION, ONE OF THE OF LARGEST CENTERS IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: FOLKS MAY KNOW THAT WHEN YOU'RE TRANSPLANTING A KIDNEY, THE GOOD LORD GIVES US TWO OF THEM, AND YOU CAN WORK FINE WITH ONE, RIGHT?

BUT LIVER, I'VE ONLY GOT ONE.

SO HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> Dr. Muthu: THE SECRET IS THE LIVER WHOSE THIS INCREDIBLE CAPACITY TO REJENNER JENN RATE.

WE TWO MONTHS LATER THE LIVER WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL SIZE AFTER TAKING HALF OF THE LIVER.

THAT IS A TECHNIQUE THAT IS BEEN GROWING IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND PROVIDE ORGANS FOR THOSE PATIENTS THAT NEED, AND WE CANNOT -- THAT WE CANNOT GET FROM A DECEASED DONOR.

SO ITS AN AMAZING ORGANS.

KIDD WE HAVE TWO KIDNEY WE HAVE TWO AND THE LIVER ONE.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED THE MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE AWAITING A LIFESAVING TRANSPLANT.

HOW MANY TRANSPLANTS ARE COMING FROM LIVING DONORS AS OPPOSED TO DECEASED DONORS?

>> Mark: UP IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT ABOUT 30% THE EMACIATE RECEIVE AN ORGAN FROM A LIKE DONOR -- LIVE DONOR.

LIVER WE ARE GROWING BUT I THINK IT'S 5 TO 6 PERCENT IN THE U.S.

IN COUNTRIES LIKE IN JAPAN OR IN TURKEY OR IN KOREA THEY DON'T HAVE THE OPTION OF LIVING DONOR.

LIVING DONOR TRANSPLANT IS MORE THAN 90% THAT THEY USE.

SO WE ARE LEARNING, WE ARE GROWING ON THAT, AND I THINK THAT IS A GREAT NOVEL APPROACH TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN NEED TRANSPLANT.

>> Jeff: LIVING DONORS, TYPICALLY FAMILY NBC I GUESS.

>> TYPICALLY BUT NOT NECESSARILY.

THEY CAN BE FRIENDS.

PEOPLE FIND DONORS IN CHURCH.

THEY HAVE TO SHARE A BLOOD TYPE SOMETIMES.

SO NOE NOT NECESSARILY FAMILY BUT WE SEE ABOUT 70% OF THE DONORS ARE FAMILY-RELATED.

>> Jeff: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HAS BEEN FAMOUS IN PIONEERING IN I THINK WHAT'S CALLED PAIRED TRANSPLANTS WHERE YOU MAY BE IN NEED AND YOU MAY HAVE A DONOR BUT THE DONOR ISN'T A MATCH FOR YOU BUT IT'S A MATCH FOR SOMEBODY OVER HERE WHO HAS A DONOR BUT THAT PERSON ISN'T A MATCH FOR YOU AND YOU BRING IN A THIRD PARTY.

IT GETS VERY COMPLICATED BUT YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP A LOT OF PEOPLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WE DO SWAP WHICH YOU HAVE A DONOR AND YOUR DONOR IS NOT A MATCH FOR YOU BUT IT'S A MATCH FOR SOMEBODY THAT'S ON THE LIST WE SO SWAP THOSE COUPLES.

BUT WE ALSO DO IT THROUGH THE NKR AND WE ALSO THROUGH IT THROUGH A MATCH -- WHICH IS A PROGRAM THAT HELPS US NOT JUST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BUT ALSO WITH SOME COLLEAGUES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS AROUND THE IN THE COUNTRY.

>> Jeff: HOW CLOSE DOES A MATCH HAVE TO BE THESE DAYS?

AND HAS THAT CHANGED OVER TIME?

>> THAT IS A GRAT POINT.

IT HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER TIME.

WE HAVE OPERATIONS THAT ARE MEDICATION TO TREAT REJECTION SO THAT HAS CHANGED TREMENDOUS HIS 234 THE LAST YU YEARS.

THE COUT OUTCOMES IN THE IMPROVEMENT IS, DESPITE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE MATCHING.

SO IT HAD TO BE SOME MATCH AND IT'S DIFFERENT IN ORGANS.

KIDNEY, FOR EXAMPLE, NEEDS A CLOSER MATCH.

LIVER IS MORE OPEN.

SO WE CAN -- WE CAN MAKE THAT IMPROVEMENT.

WE SEE THAT MOVEMENT EVERY YEAR.

>> Jeff: LET'S TAKE A PHONE CALL FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

THIS IS PHIL.

THANKS TO THE CALL.

GO AHEAD.

>> HELLO.

I'D LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE'S AN AGE LIMIT ON PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO DANE DONATE.

I'M 78 AND I HAVE MILD DIABETES.

COULD I DONATE AN ORGAN?

>> Jeff: GREAT QUESTION.

UH FOR THE CALL.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, PHIL.

WE HAVE FREQUENTLY THAT QUESTION, AND THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT BEING A DONOR, PHIL.

DEPENDING, I WOULD SAY THAT FOR KIDNEY IF YOU HAVE A GOOD KIDNEY FUNCTION, YEAR CONSIDERING OLDER DONORS FOR LIVER BECAUSE THE LIVER NEEDS THE CAPACITY OF REGENERATING.

USUALLY WHEN YOU GO ABOVE 65, WE TRY TO PREVENT USING THOSE DONORS FOR YOUR SAFETY.

BUT, YES, SO YOU COULD BE CONSIDERED AS YOU DONOR FOR KIDNEY, I WILL SAY.

>> Jeff: WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?

YOU SPENT TIME OPERATING, OF COURSE, BUT IN TERMS OF ENLARGING THE, GROWING THE ABILITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TRANSPLANTS AND HAVE SUCCESSFUL TRANSPLANTS IN ALL DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES?

HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THEM?

>> SO TRANSPLANT HAS BEEN IN THE LAST TEN YEARS LIKE MEDICINES IN GENERAL, AN INCREDIBLE INNOVATION IN THIS SPECIALTY.

WE ARE WORKING IN SEVERAL TO INCREASE WHAT IS CALLED INCREASED DONOR BOARD.

SOME OF THE AUDIENCE IS LIVING DONOR AS YOU MENTIONED AND WE ARE GROWING LIVING DONORS BUT THOSE ARE SOMETHING LIKE SEEN OH TRANSPLANTATION.

>> Jeff: THAT WAS THE PG, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THAT'S USING ANIMALS.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ANIMALS TO TRANSPLANT HUMANS.

>> Jeff: IS IT THE FUTURE?

TELL US WHAT WAS LEARNED FROM THAT PROCEDURE WHERE A MAN WITH HEART FAILURE WAS GIVEN A PEATION HEART IN THE THE FIRST-OF-ITS KIND OPERATION.

>> WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT SINO TRANSPLANTATION MORE THAN 30 YEARS.

IF YOU ASKED ME 30 OR 40 YEARS AGO I WOULD SAY I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT BUT NOW I THINK THEY COULD BE THE FUTURE.

DEFINITELY WHAT TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED THAT WE CAN DO GENE EDITING AND THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS TO US CHANGE SOME GENES IN ORGANS TO THAT PREVENTS THE ORGAN TO REJECT IN THE HUMAN.

WE NEVER COULD CROSS ORGANS FROM DIFFERENT SPECIES BUT NOW BECAUSE WE CAN MODIFY THOSE GENES WE CAN DO THAT.

WE CONTINUE TO GROWING.

THE KIDNEY HAS BEEN DONE, TEMPORARILY, ESPECIALLY IN NEW YORK AND ALABAMA WE ARE MOVING FORWARD TO DO THE NEXT SINOTRANSPLANT.

YES, IT'S THE FUTURE.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO YOU WANT MEME TO KNOW ABOUT SIGNING UP AS A DONOR?

WHEN YOU'RE GETTING YOUR DRIVER LICENSE WHERE THEY'RE SOMETHING SCG TO YOU CHECK THE BOX THAT IF GOD FORBID ONE DAY YOU WOULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT YOU WOULD BE ON A DONOR, WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> I WANT YOU KNOW THAT I AM AN ORGAN DONOR ON MY DRIVER LICENSE.

I THINK IF YOU HAVE A LOVED ONE THAT NEEDS AN ORGAN, THEN LEARN THE IMPORTANCE TO BE AN ORGAN DONOR.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE HAS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOBODY WILL HARVEST ANY ORGAN IF THE FAMILY DON'T APPROVE, SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, PUTTING YOUR DONOR WISH IN THE DRIVER LICENSE IS THE FIRST STEP, BUT THEN WE WILL LOOK INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL.

>> Jeff: DR. DANIEL MA LUF UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND SCHOOMED.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU FOR SCROING JOINING US NOR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN