Sign In
Free Newsletter
Vincent DeMarco: Two major steps for Md. health care
The General Assembly took major steps forward this year to make our state healthier. Lawmakers passed two landmark bills – one to expand access to health insurance by making enrollment far easier and one that will begin to bring down the soaring costs of prescription drugs. The legislature deserves credit for passing strong measures that […]
Md. prescription drug bill filled with compromises
Sometimes compromise means recognizing things could have gone worse. That seems to be the view of advocates of measures aimed at controlling what Marylanders pay for their medication. Legislation introduced in January would have created a board to set upper payment limits on what Marylanders could pay for high-cost prescription drugs. By the time the […]
Md. to consider health insurance market’s present, future
A busy week is in store for health policy in Maryland as regulators, advocates, consumers and insurers consider the present and future of the state’s individual market. Monday, the Maryland Insurance Administration will hear from insurers and the public as it decides where it will set premiums for the 2019 individual market. Tuesday, the Maryland […]
Poll: Prescription drug pricing legislation has support in Md. swing districts
A push to expand Maryland’s ability to control prescription drug prices released a poll Thursday that advocates said shows strong support for the effort in swing legislative districts. Voters in the 8th and 38th Districts indicated significant support for measures expected to be introduced in the state legislature next year aimed at reducing the price […]
Md. makes last push during final days of open enrollment
ANNAPOLIS — Maryland leaders, officials and advocates started their crucial final push to sign up the state’s uninsured on the Affordable Care Act marketplaces Tuesday, with just 10 days remaining in the open enrollment period. The state’s enrollment numbers have been up from last year, but leaders and advocates are making a push to finish […]
Advocacy group to take aim at prescription drug prices in Md.
A year after the General Assembly passed legislation targeting price gouging by generic drug manufacturers, a health care advocacy group will bring forward legislation in 2018 designed to decrease the prices of all prescription drugs, including brand name and specialty drugs. Under the legislation proposed by the Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative, the state would create […]
Will Md. drug price gouging bill shape national debate?
The drug Naloxone, often sold under the brand name Narcan, has become a critical tool in the fight against the opioid epidemic. But since the drug’s ability to counter overdoses became popularized in 2014, its price has more than doubled. “It’s unconscionable that the generic drug of Naloxone has more than doubled in price,” said […]
CBO score reaffirms opposition to AHCA in Maryland
Maryland groups that have been opposed to American Health Care Act pointed to the Congressional Budget Office analysis released Monday to support their position. The analysis by the nonpartisan CBO found the Republican-backed health care plan would result in 14 million more Americans without insurance next year. That number increases to 21 million in 2020 […]
Tobacco tax proposal a victim of political climate
A proposed increase on the state's tobacco tax appears to be on the back burner at least until Gov. Larry Hogan is out of office.
Md. hospitals want to engage patients with new ‘Fresh Care’ website
Maryland is in the midst of an unusual experiment to try to keep its citizens healthy and reduce the cost of health care by changing the way hospitals are paid – essentially giving them a financial incentive to keep people from needing their services. But there’s a crucial piece that’s been missing: increased consumer engagement, […]
Familiar tobacco tax proposal resurfaces in Annapolis
ANNAPOLIS – As in years’ past, health advocates are asking Maryland lawmakers to increase the state’s tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products while the business community is asking them not to. A bill sponsored in the House by Del. Eric Luedtke, D-Montgomery, and Del. Barbara Frush, D-Anne Arundel and Prince George’s, would raise the […]
Maryland places 18th on annual health rankings
A new report praises Maryland for its low prevalence of smoking and low percentage of children in poverty, ranking the state 18th in the country for the overall health of its population. But the state slipped two places from last year’s America’s Health Rankings Annual Report, published by the United Health Foundation. A 10 percent […]
