ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 24, 2016) – Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen testified Wednesday before the Maryland Senate Finance Committee urging the General Assembly to support Senate Bill 382, legislation that revises Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), and offered amendments to the bill that would encourage physicians to co-prescribe naloxone with opioid medications and to caution against concurrent prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines.

ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 16, 2016)– Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen testified Tuesday before the Maryland House of Delegates Committee on Health & Government Operations Committee urging the General assembly to provide support for House Bill 180, Public Health- HIV Testing During Pregnancy, legislation that would require a second HIV test to be conducted in the third trimester of pregnancy.

Currently, HIV testing is required for all pregnant women only in the first trimester. Under this proposed legislation, if a woman tests positive during the third trimester, she can be given antiretroviral medications that would virtually eliminate any chance of spreading HIV to the child.

BALTIMORE, MD (February 9, 2016)– Baltimore health officials are urging parents and caregivers to keep babies safe while keeping them warm during the cold weather.