Baltimore Sun: Maryland lawmakers bring home some victories for health care | READER COMMENTARY
April 9, 2021
Before wrapping up the legislative session this month, the Maryland General Assembly took major steps to expand and strengthen health care in the state. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to test our health care system, lawmakers passed three important measures that will expand access to care, make care more affordable and help undo stubborn disparities in how health care is delivered.... Read more »
Stat News: With a legislative vote, Maryland’s prescription drug affordability board moves forward
February 11, 2021
"With a permanent funding source, the board can continue its work finding solutions to address rising drug costs," DeMarco said.... Read more »
MEDIA RELEASE: Statement About General Assembly Override of Veto of Bill to Fund Prescription Drug Affordability Board
Vincent DeMarco released the following statement today after the Maryland House voted overwhelmingly (95-38) to override Governor Hogan’s veto of legislation from 2020 to establish funding for the Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board.... Read more »
State of Reform : Senate overturns Hogan’s veto over funding drug affordability board
January 18, 2021
The Maryland Senate voted to override several of Gov. Larry Hogan’s vetoes Friday, including a measure that would fund the Prescription Drug Affordability Board.... Read more »
Baltimore Business Journal: Johns Hopkins among over 250 organizations backing health equity legislation in Maryland
January 8, 2021
More than 250 organizations including the Maryland Hospital Association, major local insurers Kaiser Permanente and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, and Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine are throwing their support behind a new bill that aims to increase health equity in some Maryland communities.... Read more »
Baltimore Sun: Maryland health equity initiative legislation includes increase in alcohol tax to 10%
Johns Hopkins officials endorsed the Health Equity Resource Communities Act at a virtual news conference Friday attended by a slate of Maryland lawmakers and executives, including state Attorney General Brian Frosh and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. ... Read more »
DEMARCO HIGHLIGHTS HEALTH CARE POLICY GOALS FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION
December 9, 2020
MarylandReporter.com spoke with Maryland Citizens’ Health Initiative President Vincent DeMarco this week about his group’s three main policy goals for the upcoming legislative session: making prescription drugs more affordable, protecting and building on the Affordable Care Act, and promoting health equity. ... Read more »
Harford executive, Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board say public input is crucial as it works to curb costs of medication
November 3, 2020
Maryland is the first state in the nation to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board — a body charged with reviewing the rising cost of prescription drugs and making recommendations to the Maryland General Assembly on how they can be made more affordable — but input from consumers is crucial as board members and their supporters continue to visit communities around the state.... Read more »
Obamacare open enrollment begins amid pandemic, Supreme Court challenge
October 30, 2020
Maryland will open enrollment Sunday for health insurance plans created under the Affordable Care Act amid a rise in coronavirus cases and a looming Supreme Court challenge to the law. Demand is expected to be high as a result of the pandemic, which has infected more than 143,000 Marylanders and put tens of thousands out of work.... Read more »
Leader of Md. health group predicts legislature will override veto of prescription drug board funding
May 20, 2020
Nobody testified against it in either House. Not even the administration, which is part of the reason that the veto is so baffling.... Read more »
