What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
Expanding access to affordable care is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today. The Abortion Care Access Act should serve as the model.
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?
Throughout my time in the General Assembly, all of the involved parties have worked together to preserve and adjust the Maryland Model, preserving access to needed care regardless of a patient’s income.
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?
One way to address this crisis is to provide is to provide monetary assistance for people entering certain fields. I sponsored the first example of this concept in Maryland law, the Janet Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program. I welcome the opportunity to expand this concept.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
We should build upon our recent actions in terms of bricks and mortar, staff, and regulation. As to the latter, I was the lead sponsor of HB 448 (2020), which greatly expanded access to Telehealth.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
Our most significant effort to address the social determinants of health are part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, as evidenced by the Concentration of Poverty School Grant program.
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 would address these problems as we have addressed comparable health care cost issues, by seeking a consensus among all of the affected parties.
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?
Malpractice reform is the one area where such a consensus (see answer to #6) has been unreachable. If I can play a part in bringing about such a consensus, I will.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
My priorities would be protecting a woman’s access to reproductive health care, protecting the public from handguns in response to a Supreme Court decision that is expected to limit that authority, and ensuring that the redevelopment of Pimlico Race Track benefits both the racing industry and the surrounding communities.