The past three years have underscored the necessity of improving healthcare access, affordability, and quality for every Marylander. Howard and Montgomery Counties consistently rank in the top 100 healthiest communities in the country. But one in twenty Marylanders are still uninsured, and prescription drugs are inaccessible to many seniors and low-income families.
Since my election in 2018, I have fought to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board to prevent dramatic price increases, and voted to cap insulin copays at $30/month. I have also consistently voted to protect our state's reinsurance program and expand healthcare coverage. As a result, we have seen three consecutive years of lower insurance premiums in Maryland. In 2022 I sponsored legislation that required the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange to draft a strategy to scale our Small Business Health Options (SHOP) program to provide affordable insurance coverage for small employers & their employees.
In general, I support policies to:
- Reduce prescription drug prices
- Increase accessibility to quality health services,
- Promote transparency in medical care pricing,
- Preserve healthcare coverage for those with chronic illness, pre-existing conditions, and those qualifying for Medicaid,
- Ensure the availability and adequacy of mental health treatment in our communities, and
- Reduce the risk of addiction to drugs and provide adequate treatment for those who are addicted.
