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Recent Articles from Commentary:
A polystyrene ban is misguided
Let us praise the polystyrene food container. With its perforated hinges and recyclable plastic, that clamshell-shaped symbol of insulation does more to keep the street food I relish (including hot dogs with relish) fresh; it does more to keep the crab cakes I enjoy from going cold, or the Italian pastries that are Baltimore’s finest […]
Increasing prison sentences – by any name or number – won’t stem violence
In response to various legislative proposals from Gov. Larry Hogan, Maryland is on a fast track to pass a poorly conceived law that, if enacted, will grow Maryland’s prison population with little impact on our safety. The full Senate on Thursday gave preliminary approval to an omnibus bill that includes increasing sentence terms for an […]
Hold institutional enablers accountable for child abuse
In my career representing victims sexually abused by powerful people, I have come to understand one thing clearly: we will never change the culture of complicity until executives are held accountable through criminal prosecution. This is true for the United States Olympic Committee and university officials who enabled Larry Nassar and hundreds of other coaches […]
Emily H. Wein: Changes ahead for the Maryland telehealth industry
Telemedicine, or more generally telehealth, is not new. It has been around for decades but historically has not been a service modality commonly used by health care providers due to limited coverage and reimbursement imposed by Medicare. Restrictions on rendering provider type, patient location, type of service and type of technology used made telehealth an […]
Provider audits on the rise (Part 2)
Second of two parts There has been a rise in audit activity aimed at health care providers, due in no small part to auditors’ access to big data, which allows auditors to analyze more data in less time. It is important, therefore, to understand (1) who the auditors are, (2) the kinds of audits they […]
Stephanie Klapper: Drug cost commission would save lives
The Daily Record recently published a Feb. 23 op-ed (Sharon D. Allison-Ottey: “A well-intended bill but a bad one”) about proposed legislation (HB 1194/SB1023) to create a drug cost commission. We at the Maryland Health Care for All! Coalition champion these bills, and are pleased to address the concerns that the CoShar Foundation expressed about […]
Provider audits are on the rise
First of two parts There has been a rise in audit activity aimed at health care providers, due in no small part to auditors’ access to big data, which allows auditors to analyze more data in less time. It is important, therefore, to understand (1) who the auditors are, (2) the kinds of audits they […]
Jeff Trueman: Predictions in mediation can break – or build – impasse
(Click here for Jeff Trueman’s previous column on finding the right mediator.) In most compromise mediations, the main tactic employed by many retired judge and senior lawyer mediators is case evaluation: a forecast, or an educated guess, of the litigated outcome. Granted, litigation professionals do this all the time. Based on past experience, and perhaps […]
Sharon D. Allison-Ottey: A well-intended bill but a bad one
Last month, the Maryland Citizens Health Initiative Coalition held a press conference in Annapolis calling on the General Assembly to pass so-called “transparency” legislation, HB 1194/SB 1023, to address the cost of prescription medicine Maryland’s citizens pay at the pharmacy counter. We recognize MCHI’s efforts to bring down the out-of-pocket cost for patients and agree […]
David A. Plymyer: The high cost of secrecy
A fair share of the blame for the corruption that has enveloped the Baltimore Police Department lies with the Maryland General Assembly. It was the General Assembly, after all, that enacted an anemic disciplinary system for law enforcement officers and then shrouded it in secrecy, creating an environment in which corruption flourished. The General Assembly […]
The misunderstood effects of the Baltimore police consent decree
Last week, the monitoring team for the Baltimore Police Department consent decree submitted its final first-year monitoring plan to the court. Soon, the decree should be fully implemented and eventually we will observe its effects on the racial disparities identified in the Department of Justice’s 2016 investigative report. The effects may differ substantially from what […]
How Md. homeowners can save through property tax appeals
Being aware of and understanding the appeal process can ultimately save Maryland property owners and investors money and ensure they are paying only their fair share in real estate taxes. Real estate taxes can fluctuate based on the current market value of residential and commercial properties. The state’s Department of Assessments and Taxation conducts these […]
