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Federal judge allows suit claiming retaliatory regulation by officials to proceed
A federal lawsuit alleging state officials targeted a group of nursing homes with enforcement procedures and violated their constitutional rights can proceed, a judge ruled after finding the plaintiff had sufficiently pleaded its claims.
Study: Medicaid gives more in rural Md. access to health insurance
As President Donald Trump and his administration look to repeal the Affordable Care Act and make deep cuts to Medicaid, a new study showed evidence that Medicaid expansion has decreased the number of uninsured in rural areas of the country. Since the state has expanded Medicaid, the number of rural Marylanders signing up for coverage […]
Hogan re-appoints Peters, Schrader over objections of Senate Democrats
Lawmakers barely got out of Annapolis before Gov. Larry Hogan sent a message about how the Senate handled his appointments. Two of the most contentious appointments — Wendi Peters and Dennis Schrader — were re-appointed by Hogan Tuesday, less than a day after the 90-day legislative session ended. The appointments were not announced in any […]
Hogan withdraws Schrader for DHMH post, says he’ll reappoint
The nomination of Dennis Schrader, Gov. Larry Hogan’s recent pick to lead the state health department, has been withdrawn but a spokesman for the first-term Republican said the nominee will be back next year. Schrader, who was interviewed by the Senate Executive Nominations Committee nearly three weeks ago, has yet to be scheduled for a […]
Bills seek to codify court ruling on services for developmentally disabled foster children
ANNAPOLIS – Cross-filed bills in the General Assembly again seek to codify and clarify a 2015 Court of Appeals decision that found juvenile courts have the authority to order transition care for individuals with developmental disabilities as they age out of the foster system. House Bill 279 and Senate Bill 272 are identical to legislation […]
Mitchell resigns, to be replaced by Schrader at DMMH
Maryland Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene Van T. Mitchell has resigned, to be replaced by Dennis Schrader, who has served as the governor’s appointments secretary and as deputy transportation secretary. Mitchell on Thursday emailed his staff saying he would resign effective immediately. A department spokesman confirmed the resignation to The Daily Record, and Gov. Larry […]
DHMH will overhaul sexual abuse protections as part of settlement
The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has reached a settlement with a former patient which includes an overhaul of sexual abuse protections in state-run hospitals and treatment facilities. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, filed suit in 2014 after being sexually assaulted by two patients while in the custody and care of two DHMH facilities, according […]
Md. lawmakers vow bill requiring DHMH to honor court orders
Two state legislators say they will introduce bills that make it clear the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is required to move quickly and obey court orders to accept mentally incompetent defendants who are awaiting trial. Sen. Robert A. “Bobby” Zirkin, D-Baltimore County and chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, and Del. Kathleen […]
Union, Hogan administration clash on mental hospital issues
The largest state employees’ union is calling on the governor and Maryland health officials to increase the number of beds and staffing at state mental hospitals. The demands come days after the state health secretary appeared before a Baltimore City Circuit Court judge to explain the problem and a working group established by the secretary published […]
Maryland health chief admits error in not seeking bed funds
Maryland’s top health official says he regrets not asking for more money in this year’s state budget to prevent patients from being turned away from state mental hospitals because of a bed shortage. The Baltimore Sun reports that Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell told a Baltimore judge Tuesday that he […]
Md. juvenile courts can order DHMH care of child after 21
Juvenile courts can order seriously disabled children under the guardianship of the state to continue receiving care after they age out of the foster system to prevent a lapse in services during the transition to the adult system, the state Court of Appeals has ruled. Dustin R. turned 21 in 2013. During the process of […]
Chimes faces wrongful death lawsuit
The family of a man who had the mental capacity of a 1-year-old has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against his care provider, alleging employees did not provide him proper supervision. Mitchell Bruh, 44, was under the care of The Chimes Inc. in a transport van in June 2014 when he ingested a latex glove […]
