What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
One of the biggest challenges that we face are the systemic inequities that fuel persistent health disparities. Paired with the historic disinvestment in our public health infrastructure, health disparities and inequities persist and were exacerbated during the pandemic. To combat the persistent health disparities we see in chronic disease, cancer, mental and behavioral health, maternal and infant mortality to name a few, we must invest in the social determinants of health. Investments are needed to ensure that the conditions of where we live, work, learn, play and pray promote health and wellbeing. In addition to funding, we must pass policies like increasing SNAP incentives, improve access to quality childcare and strengthen how we collect disaggregated data to inform policy decisions.
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?
To support the continued success of the Maryland Model, I will support efforts through grantmaking and public-private partnerships to advance innovative community interventions that seek to achieve population health goals. By focusing on prevention efforts in our communities, this will better position Maryland hospitals to support these programmatic and policy efforts and improve care delivery. I would also work to incentivize providers to have greater ownership in supporting the model’s goals and ensure the patient’s voice and community advocates have a seat at the table to set equitable targets and approaches to achieve goals.
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?
The Great Resignation is impacting every sector, especially health care. For long term sustainability, I will work to bolster recruitment and retention efforts by tapping into all of our educational institutions at all levels, including our high schools, community colleges and minority serving institutions like HBCUs. While this will strengthen the pipeline, we must also ensure that we invest and protect health care workers. Those who care for our loved ones in health care settings need a competitive salary and benefits, opportunities for growth, and a safe and healthy work environment.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
One of the primary ways to increase availability and access to health care would be to expand access to telehealth, remove barriers to access broadband and make it easier and affordable for Marylanders to access care. I would also work to strengthen Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board powers to enforce lower pricing, prevent price gauging to better protect patients and their families.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
As a public health professional, there are many policies that I would champion that would improve the health and wellbeing of all Marylanders. Some of these policy levers relate to improving the nutritional environment of our communities such as healthy restaurant kids’ meals, increasing the state appropriation for the Maryland Market Money program to expand SNAP incentives and removing taxes on water. Other policy levers to improve our community relate to the expansion and protection of green spaces, investment in bike and pedestrian infrastructure and complete streets to create safe, comfortable and age-friendly communities. I would also support policies that focus on investing in our mental and behavioral health infrastructure, equitably implementing and strengthening the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future and access to affordable housing to name a few.
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?
As previously shared, I believe we must strengthen the powers of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board to better negotiate and lower prescription drug prices. Giving them greater authority to address these costs will better protect consumers and deter price gauging. I will work with a diverse range of stakeholders like the Maryland Hospital Association to find better ways to eliminate the cost-sharing burden on employees as high deductible health plans may deter use of preventative health services.
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?
Yes, I support limiting attorney’s fees in medical malpractice cases to ensure that plaintiffs are able to receive compensation for their long-term care. In addition to reducing the level of attorney’s fees, I would work alongside the Maryland Hospital Association and other key stakeholders such as patients, providers, professional organizations and other advocates to determine other potential policies to address the growing issues within the medical liability space.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
Other priorities I will champion relate to our environment, public education, older adults and public safety.