Advocacy
On February 14, 2008, CPR President Michael Bennett testified in support of Senate Bill 102, sponsored by State Senator Lisa A. Gladden. CPR encourages the public to phone their legislators and members of the Senate Finance Committee to urge their support for this critical patient safety bill.
Senate Finance Committee:
http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/05sen/html/com/04fin.html
Michael Bennett's testimony
* Left mouse click on the above link to download the MS Word file
CPR was instrumental in the drafting and introduction of SB535 (sponsored by Senators Paula Hollinger and Lisa Gladden) and HB966 (sponsored by Delegate James Hubbard), which mandate infection control guidelines in all Maryland residential health care facilities. These laws would codify the SHEA guidelines, the only documented effective means of infection control. Unfortunately, these bills were rejected due to the resistance of the Maryland Hospital Association, who claimed they were “making progress on their own.” Due in large part to the tremendous support of Senator Lisa Gladden, the bills will be reintroduced next year.
CPR also testified against a series of medical malpractice reform bills (known as the Governor’s bill). These bills, listed below, include: proposals to reduce the medical malpractice cap to $500,000 for non-economic damages, for both wrongful death and survival actions; granting immunity to Emergence Room providers; and structured verdicts of future economic and non-economic awards at the discretion of the insurer, with remaining monies reverting back to the insurer.
HB306 – Maryland Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act Sponsored by Delegates:
Aumann (R), Baltimore County
Bartlett (R), Frederick County
Bohanan (D), St. Mary’s County
Boschert ( R), Anne Arundel County
Boteler ( R), Baltimore County
Cluster ( R), Baltimore County
Cryor ( R), Montgomery County
Donoghue (D), Washington County
Dwyer ( R), Anne Arundel County
Eckardt (R ), Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties
Edwards (R ), Garrett and Allegany Counties
Ellicot (R ), Carroll and Frederick Counties
Elmore ®, Somerset and Wicomico Counties
Frank (R ), Baltimore County
Gilleland (R ), Anne Arundel County
Haddaway (R ), Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties
Hogan (R ), Frederick County
Impallaria (R ), Baltimore and Harford Counties
Jennings (R ), Baltimore and Harford Counties
Kach (R), Baltimore County
Kohl (R ), Cecil and Harford Counties
Krebs (R ), Carroll County
Leopold (R ), Anne Arundel County
Mayer (R ), Charles County
McComas (R ), Harford County
McConkey (R ), Anne Arundel County
McDonough (R ), Baltimore and Harford Counties
McKee (R ), Washington County
McMillan (R ), Anne Arundel County
Miller (R ), Howard County
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Myers (R ), Allegany and Washington Counties
O’Donnell (R ), Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties
Parrott (R ), Harford County
Shank (R ), Washington County
Shewell (R ), Carroll County
Sossi (R ), Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne’s Counties
Stocksdale (R ), Carroll County
Stull (R ), Frederick County
Weier (R ), Baltimore County
Weldon (R ), Frederick and Washington Counties
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
HB1059 – Health Care Malpractice – Emergency Medical Care- Standard of Proof for Liability Sponsored by Delegates:
Shank (R ), Washington County
Bartlett (R ), Frederick County
Buteler (R ), Baltimore County
Costa (R ), Anne Arundel County
Elliott (R ), Carroll and Frederick Counties
Frank (R ), Baltimore County
Haddaway (R ), Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties
Hogan (R ), Frederick
Kelly (D), Allegany County
McComas (R ), Harford County
McKee (R ), Washington County
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Myers (R ), Allegany and Washington Counties
Oaks (D), Baltimore City
Shewell (R ), Carroll County
Sophocleus (D), Anne Arundel County
Weldon (R ), Frederick and Washington Counties
HB1214 – Health Care Malpractice – Emergency Medical Care – Good Samaritan Immunity Sponsored by Delegates:
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
Barve (D), Cecil County
Bromwell (D), Baltimore County
Costa (R), Anne Arundel County
Jones (D), Baltimore County
McComas (R ), Harford County
Moe (D), Anne Arundel and Prince Georges Counties
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Oaks (D), Baltimore City
Rudolph (D), Cecil County
Shewell (R ), Carroll County
Sophocleus (D), Anne Arundel County
HB789 – Certification of Qualified Experts (unfavorable report out of committee) Sponsored by:
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
Barve (D), Cecil County
Donoghue (R ), Washington County
Jones (D), Baltimore County
McConkey (R ), Anne Arundel County
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Shank (R ), Washington County
HB790 – Expression of Regret or Apology
HB816 – Medical Malpractice Administrative Review Board (unfavorable report out of committee) Sponsored by:
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
Barve(D), Cecil County
Jones (D), Baltimore County
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
HB936 – Health Care Malpractice – Damages – Periodic Payments (unfavorable report out of committee) Sponsored by:
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
Hammen
Barve (D), Cecil County
Jones (D), Baltimore County
McComas (R ), Harford County
Shank (R ), Washington County
Sophocleus (D), Anne Arundel County
Rudolph (D), Cecil County
McMillan (R ), Anne Arundel County
Kelly (D), Allegany County
Paige (D), Baltimore City
HB1136 – Medical Malpractice Task Force (unfavorable report out of committee) Sponsored by:
Shank (R), Washington County
Frank (R ), Baltimore County
Kelly (D), Allegany County
McComas (R ), Harford County
McKee (R ), Anne Arundel County
Morhaim (D), Baltimore County
Shewell (R ), Carroll County
Weldon (R ), Frederick and Washington Counties
HB1425 – Payment of Future Damages
Sponsored by:
Donoghue (D), Washington County
Barve (D), Montgomery County
Kach (R ), Baltimore County
Rudolph (D), Cecil County
Zirkin (D), Baltimore County
SB229 – Maryland Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (the Governor’s Bill) Sponsored by Senators:
Brinkley (R ), Carroll and Frederick Counties
Colburn (R ), Caroline, Dorchester, Talbot and Wicomico Counties
Greenip (R ), Anne Arundel County
Haines (R ), Baltimore and Carroll Counties
Hooper (R ), Harford County
Jacobs (R ), Cecil and Harford Counties
Jimeno (D), Anne Arundel County
Kittleman (R ), Carroll and Howard Counties
Mooney (R ), Frederick and Washington Counties
Schrader (R ), Howard County
Stoltzfus (R ), Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties