Why the Md. HMO Tax?

The Washington Times reports.

Maryland imposed a tax on HMO premiums "to subsidize doctors' malpractice insurance premiums." HMO's turn around and increase their premiums accordingly. Maryland Democrats are "shocked."

When doctors passed their malpractice premium increases onto HMO's who in turn passed the increases on to consumers, that was bad and required the imposition of a tax that could be imposed on HMO's and passed on to consumers, probably with additional "administrative costs" being leaked in Annapolis.

Makes perfect sense to me.