What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
Mental health is a huge unmet need in Maryland. A lack of providers who are in-network, telehealth, lack of crisis psych beds, inappropriate ED placement of adolescents, children in adult facilities, criminal justice action rather than psychological treatment--all of these contribute to the problem. In the MGA, we have addressed many of these, but too recently to see if our actions will make a positive change. We remain hopeful and vigilant and will continue our good work to address this healthcare challenge.
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?
In the MGA and HGO Committee, we have been closely following and improving the Total Cost of Care model. We are gratified and optimistic that a focus on the overall health and well being of the patient rather than a focus on disease treatment and cure, will result in lower healthcare costs and greater healthcare outcomes.
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 am very intrigued by the idea of using an apprenticeship model for healthcare worker will be a game changer in recruitment, training, retention, and career advancement of 21st Century healthcare workers. Many healthcare professions have "stackable credentials (ie Nursing: CNA, CMA, LPN, RN, NP). This is a situation where, with minimal training, someone can enter the profession, begin working and be supported through continued and advanced training in return for a commitment to stay in the position for a period of time. This will result in a well trained workforce with a commitment to stay and a level of certainty that they made the correct career choice resulting in greater productivity, retention and job satisfaction.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
In 2021, I sponsored the Healthcare Subsidies for Young Marylanders Pilot Program that was specifically targeted to the greatest number of uninsured Marylanders--those aged 19-34 making $51,000 or less. In just it's first year, an additional 9000 healthy, young, employed Marylanders are now covered. We are able to do this through funding from the 2018 Reinsurance Program. We will continue to use these funds to find ways to increase access and quality of healthcare for all Marylanders.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
The Total Cost of Care Model is quite focused on social determinants of health including, infant mortality, diabetes, lifestyle, diet, socio-economic factors. In the MGA, we did some great things this past session. We passed adult dental coverage for Medicaid recipients, prenatal and childbirth coverage regardless of immigration status, removing sales tax on child care items and oral care supplies, covering mensural supplies for Medicaid, and capping the monthly cost of insulin. We will continue to find ways to increase healthcare access and affordability.
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 Reinsurance Fund surplus will be used to find ways to reduce high deductibles. The newly operation Prescription Drug Affordability Board and our constant work on regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers are the approaches we are taking to control prescription medication costs
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?
This is not an area I have had to consider in my first term in the MGA. I suspect any legislation would be jointly assigned to HGO and Judiciary. I'd have to read arguments and listen to testimony in bill hearings before coming to an opinion and exploring a course of action.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
I'm very interested in alleviating traffic and transportation issues in Frederick County. Specifically, I see transit and local economic development that brings jobs to the people rather than send people to the jobs as the best approach. There are main thoroughfares with serious congestion problems within my district I a keep to fix. I also hope to continue my unfinished work on expanding apprenticeships to address vacancies in critical need occupations.