Issue Position: Healthcare

Issue Position

Mary-Dulany James has been a champion for healthcare reform in the State of Maryland. Delegate James knows that access to affordable healthcare is an essential part of a high quality of life for citizens of all ages, and as the Chairperson of the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee, she has made this one of her top priorities.

In her first term down in Annapolis, Delegate James won a huge battle for the citizens of Maryland with her sponsorship of the Senior Prescription Drug Relief Act. This Act created both the Maryland Pharmacy Discount Program and the Maryland MEDBANK Program, making affordable prescription drugs more accessible to Maryland's senior citizens.

In 2002, Mary-Dulany was essential in passing the Maryland Infants and Toddlers Act, which established a program to provide healthcare coverage to 100,000 children here in Maryland. Prior to this legislation, Maryland had one of the highest infant mortality rates in the country, especially in the minority communities. Delegates James has worked diligently to ensure that this program continues to receive adequate funding, ensuring access to healthcare and a better quality of life for Maryland's children.

Since the healthcare expansion that occurred in Maryland with the passage of the Fair Share Health Care Law in 2005 and the Working Families and Small Business Health Care Coverage Act of 2007, Delegate James has used her position on the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee to collaborate with healthcare providers to find creative solutions for funding the expansion. These pieces of legislation have provided over 100,000 Marylanders with access to quality healthcare.

In 2008, Delegate James was instrumental in expanding the Maryland P3 Program into Harford County. The Maryland P3 Program is a partnership between the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the Maryland Pharmacists Association; aimed at advising patients with proper use of prescription drugs.

In 2010, Mary-Dulany helped draft the Maryland False Health Claims Act, which aims to save millions of taxpayer dollars by thwarting Medicaid fraud. The Act established civil penalties for individuals who perpetrate Medicaid fraud against the State's healthcare system.

Throughout her tenure as Chair of the Health and Human Resources Subcommittee, Delegate James has been steadfast in her dedication to ensuring that Marylanders have access to some of the best healthcare in the country. In addition to securing necessary funding for University of Maryland Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital, two of the best hospitals in the nation, Mary-Dulany fought to provide millions of dollars in funding for local hospitals such as Harford Memorial Hospital, Upper Chesapeake Hospital, and Unions Memorial Hospital.

Mary-Dulany was also a deeply involved in the establishment of the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange (MHBE). Helping Maryland be a leader in healthcare reform throughout the country, the MHBE will make health insurance more affordable for Maryland's citizens by providing financial assistance to qualifying families throughout the State.

Additionally, Delegate James has played an important role in obtaining funding to implement the new changes mandated by the federal Affordable Care Act. Most recently, Mary-Dulany supported the passage of the Maryland Health Progress Act of 2013. This bill establishes a dedicated funding stream for the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Act, as well as making other significant changes to bring Maryland into compliance with the new federal regulations.

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