What is the greatest health care challenge facing Maryland today, and how do you plan to address it?
One of my top priorities as governor will be ensuring universal access to affordable health care coverage for the 257,000 Marylanders who currently lack health coverage. When I was just three years old, I watched my father die in front of me from a virus that was completely treatable if he had just received the basic care that he deserved. That experience shaped my life and, specifically, my view that affordable, quality health care is a basic right that every Marylander deserves, period. Specifically, our administration will work to make enrollment and renewal in the Medicaid program easier, and to the extent possible, automatic; provide extra subsidies to make private health care more affordable; and provide affordable coverage options for people not eligible for the exchange.
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?
Maryland's hospital all payer system and Total Cost of Care Model is a significant benefit to Marylanders and Maryland health care. The current model encourages hospitals and health systems to go outside the hospital walls and allows for incentives to better coordinate care and to improve population health, as well as deliver quality care and value to patients.
We recognize that the model has had its growing pains since it was implemented in 2014, but believe that it holds tremendous promise in supporting hospitals and health systems in improving health care and overall health in Maryland as the Model evolves. The Model helped hospitals in the early days of the pandemic ensure smooth levels of funding. Recently, the model has allowed for greater investment in primary care as well as investment in population health goals such as addressing diabetes, lowering opioid overdose deaths, and improving maternal and child health.
As governor, I plan to work closely with hospitals, health systems, experts, and all stakeholders to develop a plan for the Model that best serves Maryland and leads to even better health care delivery in our state.
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?
There is an unmistakable need to support health care workers in every aspect and phase of the system. The pandemic has put an unimaginable amount of strain on health care workers, pushing many to leave this industry. We have been facing shortages across positions in nursing, physicians and home health aides to name a few. Filling these vacancies and creating a stronger health care pipeline is a priority for our administration. Our administration will focus on providing an educational system that trains people so they can enjoy satisfying and good-paying jobs while serving others. As outlined in my economic plan, I will increase funding for apprenticeships and work with labor organizations and the business community to drive students into high-demand and high-paying jobs in high-opportunity fields, including health care. We will also work to drive more students into STEM fields to support workforce growth, including the creation of a health care line as part of our Service Year Option program. We will set clear benchmarks for institutions of higher education and community colleges to produce 40,000 new STEM graduates each year and utilize incentives like tuition assistance and loan forgiveness to drive students into STEM programs and reward institutions for achieving their benchmarks. Additionally, our administration will develop public-private partnerships with industry leaders to fund STEM apprenticeships to ensure students can earn while they learn.
How would you increase availability of and access to health care for Marylanders?
One of my top priorities as governor will be ensuring universal access to affordable health care coverage for the 257,000 Marylanders who currently lack health coverage. When I was just three years old, I watched my father die in front of me from a virus that was completely treatable if he had just received the basic care that he deserved. That experience shaped my life and, specifically, my view that affordable, quality health care is a basic right that every Marylander deserves, period. Specifically, our administration will work to make enrollment and renewal in the Medicaid program easier, and to the extent possible, automatic; provide extra subsidies to make private health care more affordable; and provide affordable coverage options for people not eligible for the exchange.
We will also develop stronger pipelines of health care workers in rural areas of the state where health care availability is limited by promoting better access to telehealth and other technological solutions. To encourage our best students to become health care professionals and serve rural Maryland, our administration will provide loan assistance and financial support to students who chose to practice in rural areas after they graduate. To make it easier for people to receive medical attention, even when the closest facility is miles away, they will open telehealth opportunities and mobile clinics. Addditionally, our comprehensive transportation and mobility plan outlines how we can provide better transit and broadband options to rural Maryland. As governor, I will address the challenge of access to health care in rural communities so that a person’s ability to stay well isn’t determined by zip code.
What policies will you pursue to improve health for all Marylanders? Please also consider the social determinants of health?
To improve health, we must move to address social determinants of health such as access to healthy food, transportation, housing, and greater economic opportunity. Maryland has started the process to designate and fund Health Equity Resource Communities - this effort should be built on. Right here in Maryland, 39 percent of Maryland households may be experiencing food insecurity. The average family of four spends roughly $10,000 per year on food and groceries. Estimates predict the cost of food has risen 7% over the past year, meaning that families can expect to spend nearly $700 more on food and groceries this year. Everything is more expensive, but wages are stagnant. This issue is so important to me which is why my wife and I created a partnership with Thread and Baltimore Corps to provide healthy food to families in need during the pandemic. Keeping with the core belief that zip-code should not determine one’s access to health care and opportunities, it also should not be a disparately high indicator of nutrition available. Food deserts are a documented problem in urban areas of the state, but the problems they create lead to more than just people going hungry. Additionally, other issues such as air pollution cost Maryland more than $2 billion annually in costs that include its effect on increasing rates of heart attacks, asthma, and other health outcomes. We need to do better at combating these challenges by looking at them through every lens possible, including health care, which is why equity is at the heart of every one of the plans I’ve released since launching my campaign. It’s also why creating opportunities for people to step into better jobs, earn higher wages, and build wealth that people can pass down to their children - especially for underserved communities - is the North Star that guiding my campaign and will guide my administration when I’m governor. Together we will create a brighter future for Maryland.
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?
Even with coverage, the cost of health care is often too high, leading Marylanders to defer needed care or forgo medically-necessary prescription drugs. In fact, nearly 20% of households have medical debt. Our administration will make sure that all Marylanders can access affordable health care coverage, including dental and vision care. We will make enrollment and renewal in the Medicaid program easier, and to the extent possible, automatic. Subsidies will be set aside to make health care coverage through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange more affordable and examine ways to provide coverage to those who do not have access to subsidized coverage through Medicaid and the Exchange. And the Maryland Office of Minority Health and the Commission on Health Equity will be empowered to implement policies so that services are available in every community. I will also ensure that primary care is affordable and accessible to all Marylanders, and that care is available to people where they live.
Additionally, we must address the high costs of prescription drugs which makes up 28.4% of commercial health spending in our state. These costs, which continue to rise, are paralyzing those who are already struggling to make ends meet. The Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board was created in 2019 to address this, but it’s still not adequately staffed or funded. That’s why I will immediately appoint staff to energize this Board to do its job, as well as explore innovative partnerships with the federal government to address the high costs of treatments. The idea that some Marylanders need to choose between getting medicine or providing food for their family is unacceptable. Our administration will ensure that Marylanders can access affordable prescription drugs by empowering the Prescription Drug Affordability Board to review costs and set limits for prescription drugs, exploring bulk buying pools, and leveraging the state’s purchasing power to drive down 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?
I recognize the importance of this issue and I am committed to bringing all stakeholders to the table in order to find a fair solution that fosters a more transparent and efficient market.
What are your priorities should you be elected, not confined to health care?
Creating opportunities for people to step into better jobs, earn higher wages, and build wealth that people can pass down to their children – especially for underserved communities - is the North Star that will guide my administration when I’m governor. I will create opportunities for work through strengthening affordable pathways to higher education and fixing our broken child care system. I will secure better wages by raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2023 and addressing wage theft hurting workers. And I will ensure that every Marylander has opportunities to create wealth by making housing more affordable, and ensuring procurement agencies reach their goals for Minority Business Enterprise contracts. We must use this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a stronger, more inclusive economy for every Marylander. Together we will create a brighter future for Maryland.
What type of judicial candidates would you appoint and what characteristics do they have?
Our administration will look for candidates with strong qualifications and people who will keep the utmost fidelity to the law while at the same looking for candidates that share our commitment to building a fairer and more equitable criminal justice system.
As Governor, you would appoint the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health. What characteristics and priorities do you believe your health secretary should have?
I will pick a highly qualified candidate for Secretary of the Maryland Department of Health that focuses on health holistically, and shares our commitment to breaking down disparities and finding ways to improve access to affordable care. We will welcome feedback, input, and engagement on health care related appointments with the Maryland Hospital Association, health care workers, and organizations across Maryland. Any appointments will reflect this vision for collaboration and will share the same commitment to supporting health care and health outcomes across Maryland.