What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
The largest challenge facing the medical field is the astronomical cost tied to receiving treatment. Health care is a human right but unfortunately, millions of low-income individuals, especially in black and brown communities, lack access to affordable care. Americans should not be forced into bankruptcy to receive life-saving treatment, and the quality of their services should not be dependent on their family's wealth. As of 2021, 350k Marylanders were uninsured. To this end, I support a state-implemented universal payer program, similar to those of countries around the globe. This is not a radical idea as some may paint it to be, and is in fact supported by a majority of nurses and other healthcare professionals.
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?
We must ensure that all individuals receive a fully comprehensive, wrap-around, healthcare program that is proactive in addressing all medical concerns. From social workers to dietitians, every person has a unique role to play in the treatment of our most vulnerable populations. I will continue to support legislation that enhances the services provided in this program, protects its allocated funding, and expands the program to ensure that all Marylanders have access to it.
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?
Nurses are rightfully concerned about their safety, protection, and security in the workplace. Too many professionals are getting injured on the job, either by combative patients or ponderous responsibilities. I support legislation that would require hospitals to employ lift teams, establish comprehensive violence prevention plans, and fund the purchase of modernized equipment. It is the responsibility of the state government to provide funding and partnership to see these projects through to fruition. The quality of service is only as good as the people providing it; the more we can support our healthcare workers, the better treatment our patients will receive.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
I support universal health care, which must also include dental and mental health treatments. The United States is the only country in the world to not employ a single-payer model, and we pay the highest amount per capita in medical services. While the Affordable Care Act insured millions of Americans, it was not far enough reaching to eradicate the problem of inaccessibility. We must also ensure that areas of all wealth status, including rural and urban, have hospitals within their neighborhoods. It is ludicrous to force someone to drive hours to receive treatment, and often, those people end up not receiving care at all. Nobody should die from a preventable cause because of their inability to pay for treatment-- it is immoral and unjust. The job of the government is to protect our residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status. We have much progress to make in realizing this ideal.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
Our political system has ingrained a retroactive approach in policy-making, failing to realize future disasters. The COVID-19 pandemic would have been far less catastrophic had our residents been insured. We should streamline the process to enroll in insurance, increase education about available services (especially Medicaid), and continually advance expand programs to cover more individuals. Additionally, we should promote targeted efforts to address the inequalities in low-income areas and communities of color, such as the Health Equity Resource Communities Program. Not only will these programs increase available services, including preventing unnecessary trips to the emergency room (saving money for everyone). All Marylanders, including immigrants, are entitled to quality, affordable healthcare.
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?
The cost of healthcare has exponentiated over the past forty years, far outpacing European countries. As of 2013, the United States spent 17.1% of GDP on health care services. Implementing a single-payer model will save consumers and taxpayers billions of dollars. We should also continue our support of Federally Qualified Health Center programs, such as the Baltimore Medical System, to provide more affordable primary care treatment options. To address the exorbitant cost of prescription drugs, we should institute a cap on prices that pharmaceutical companies can charge. Multi-billion dollar companies should not continue to go unregulated and subsidized at the expense of hardworking taxpayers. Instead of filling the pockets of executives, we should be investing in doctors, nurses, dentists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and all people who actually provide treatment. Let's invest in actual research, not pseudoscience, for the sake of raising prices. I am confident that once we redefine our priorities as a nation and finally realize fundamental human rights for every individual, the health of individuals, communities, and the economy will advance.
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?
Too often, consumers are attacked with predatory fees just to ultimately receive a small compensation. I support studying current practices to ensure they are in line with other states, with the possibility of limiting excessive legal fees. As legislators, we should take necessary measures to apprehend the realities facing Marylanders, and meet with stakeholders to address this concern.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
My entire career has been defined by one word: justice. From pushing for police reform to greater investments in public schools, I have been consistent in advancing equity, fairness, and accountability in our communities.
I’ve always placed the interest of the people above the will of the political establishment and often had to challenge establishment Democrats on issues such as lead poison - a major form of environmental injustice, racial justice, criminal and juvenile justice, economic justice, and frankly, on my very right to legislate on behalf of these matters.