What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
Maryland continues to face health disparities. We need to continue to provide funding revenues to protect our most vulnerable communities, reproductive healthcare, and mental health services. Expansion of the Medicaid program to include mental health services, and protecting women’s rights to healthcare are two vital priorities.
Maryland’s hospitals operate under a unique contract with the federal government that promotes community, equity, and value. It also contributes significantly to Maryland's economy. How do you plan to support the continued success of the Maryland Model?
I will continue to support a holistic approach for access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Marylanders that offers transparency and accountability with regulated pricing and universal resources. Maintaining and supporting funding needs of our hospitals in all areas regardless of zip code ensures that all Marylanders are provided the opportunity to secure the care they need without the added concern of cost.
Maryland is experiencing a shortage of health care practitioners, especially nurses, that we project will worsen in the years ahead. How do you plan to address the immediate crisis and what will you do to make sure we have a robust and sustainable health care workforce pipeline?
I will work with my colleagues on initiatives that will offer incentives to enter into the healthcare field and continue to grow that workforce. I will also work to create an environment that is welcoming and supportive of prospective candidates from various ethnic and racial backgrounds. I will support measures that extend added benefits and protections to essential workers, such as the Essential Workers Protection Act.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
I will continue to work with my colleagues in introducing legislation that provides for more affordable health care for all through the expansion of the Medicaid program. I have supported important tax relief for medical supplies and diabetic medicine. I will continue to support similar initiatives, if elected.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
Mental health needs continue to be underserved. As a state, we need to recognize the importance of a healthy mind and provide the necessary services to our residents to maintain and address their mental health needs. Expanding Medicaid to be inclusive of mental health services and offering programs such as the 9-8-8 system will help connect those who are suffering to mental health professionals sooner rather than later. With proper funding, we can dedicate resources to expanding mental health care and employee assistance programs for early detection and intervention. We also need to recognize the underlying factors that impact someone’s physical and mental health. Focusing on providing affordable housing, decreasing food deserts and offering proper education all impact someone’s health. Emphasis on these components is a pro-active way to address and improve an individual’s overall health.
How do you plan to address consumers' growing exposure to health care costs, such as high deductible health plans and rising prescription drug prices in Maryland?
I will continue to support smart legislation that offers accountability and transparency for affordable health care like the creation and funding of the Prescription Drug Affordability Board. That Board will work to make high cost prescription drugs more affordable for Marylanders. Other initiatives, such as Maryland’s Easy Enrollment Health Program, is a simple mechanism for enrolling uninsured Marylanders into free or low cost health insurance coverage by adding a checkbox on state income tax returns. During the 2022 session, I supported the Family Budget Boosters bills which exempts the sales tax on health products like dental hygiene products, medical devices and diabetic care products.
Maryland’s worsening medical liability climate, as noted in a recent independent report, threatens access to, and affordability of, health care services in Maryland. Plaintiffs’ attorneys typically take 40% of a medical malpractice judgment. Do you support limiting attorneys’ fees so that the affected individuals can receive more of their settlement or judgment? What additional reforms would you support that balance supporting individuals and families harmed by medical malpractice with ensuring continued access to services in a community?
I have supported legislation in the past that offered to limit attorney’s fees in medical malpractice cases. I will continue to support legislation that offers protections to Plaintiffs from burdensome costs and fees associated with seeking justice against healthcare practitioners who violate the standard of care.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
To be a competitive economy, Maryland does not only need job growth and economic development, but also living wages, equal access to jobs and a diverse, well-trained workforce. Quality of life begins with economic prosperity. There are many policies and initiatives we can pursue on a state level to ensure opportunity for all Marylanders.
Based upon conversations with my constituents, community associations and fellow leaders, major concerns of my district are the lack of thriving businesses, the need for healthy food options and economic development particularly along the Liberty Road corridor. I have and will continue to work on programs that offer incentives to businesses, grocery stores and developers to revitalize this area to stimulate the economy. During the 2022 legislative session, I sponsored 2 measures to work towards that goal. HB680 provides a tax incentive in the form of a property tax credit to grocery stores that open or renovate in food deserts. SB557 (I cross-filed the House bill) creates the West Baltimore Redevelopment Authority. Both measures successfully passed this session.
Another major priority for me is Financial Literacy. Each year I host a Financial Literacy Forum bringing together financial institutions, consumer protection entities, law enforcement, tax professionals and college admissions panel for a community event. This forum provides an opportunity to arm our community with valuable knowledge about finances before they make life-long decisions, targeting topics such as personal finances, job opportunities, protecting your identity and finances, building better credit and funding higher education responsibility. I introduced legislation during the 2022 legislative session to establish a Financial Literacy Pilot Program in our Maryland high schools. While this measure didn’t pass this session, it continues to be a major priority of mine. Teaching our students these basic personal financial concepts lay the foundation that enables them to make informed decisions as adults.