What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
The greatest health challenge facing Maryland today is affordability and accessibility. Affordability will be addressed largely by holding down the costs of prescription drugs and requiring insurance companies to limit cost increases while expanding coverage. Accessibility will be accomplished through ongoing examination of scope of practice opportunities, better attraction and retention strategies for health care professionals, and expansion of telehealth.
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 have a long record of supporting the Total Cost of Care Model. I would be willing to sponsor legislation and budget requests that support the key components of the model.
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?
HB 1208-Health Occupations-Health Care Workforce Expansion established a licensed practical nurse and registered nurse preceptorship income tax credit and created a stakeholder workgroup to study expanding the State apprenticeship programs to the health care workforce.
SB 696-Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment for Nurses and Nursing Support Staff established the Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program (MLARP) and a special fund for the program. MDH must convene a workgroup to examine how to further incentivize nursing and nursing support staff. The workgroup will make recommendations on priorities and ongoing funding.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
In Health and Government Operations we have done a lot of work on scope of practice issues. This enables more health practitioners to perform functions that are commensurate with their training.
We have also done a lot of work on telehealth and that needs to continue to expand. We also need to continue our efforts to expand the ACA.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
I would like to see the expansion of coverage for dental, eye care, and hearing loss for senior citizens.
We also need to take a more aggressive position on the environmental factors that cause negative health outcomes. This is particularly problematic in low income communities. I would also like to see a single payer health insurance option using Massachusetts as a model.
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 have reservations about high deductible health plans as they are only helpfull in catastrophic situations. Nevertheless, that is all that some people can afford.
The Prescription Drug Affordability Board has started the process of capping costs for some prescription drugs. Maryland is a pioneer in establishing a cost control boardfor medications but we have no definition for ""upper payment limits"" within our state code. This could ultimately be a recommendation of the Board. During the 2022 legislative session we capped co-pays on insulin prescriptions. (HB 1397/SB353) limits the amount a covered individual is required to pay in copayments or coinsurance for a covered prescription insulin drug to no more than $30 for a 30 day supply.
Also, HB 1274 established requirements and prohibitions on pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) relating to covered and reimbursement of prescription drugs. Among other protections, this bill prohibits a PBM from offering lower reimbursements for or refusing to cover prescription drugs purchased under the 340B program. Finally, the bill prohibits PBMs from charging fees, imposing different network participation contract terms, or modifying a beneficiary's copayment based on whether a pharmacy or pharmacist participates in the 340B program.
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 would support limiting attorney's fees so that the affected individuals can receive more of their settlement or judgment.
For several years we heard a bill that would create a fund for medical liability. We never took a vote but I believe that the votes are there.
In addition to limiting attorney's fees, we should consider placing a cap on non-economic damages.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
I have served on a health committee for the past eight years. I have expressed my desire to continue to do that to the Senate President. I believe that there are a number of federal waivers that are being left on the table that would help us to expand health care access and affordability.
In the past, some of the legislative issues outside of health care that I have sponsored include: equal pay, support for victims of sexual assault, and tax breaks for seniors living on limited incomes.