The Maryland General Assembly’s 2018 session has started. We at the Baltimore City Health Department are hard at work with our state legislators on a variety of bills to safeguard health and well-being.

A critical priority is protecting the Affordable Care Act and preventing the gains made from being rolled back. Last month, I expressed my full support for a state-enforced individual mandate bill, which would use collected funds and apply them toward marketplace plans for those who are uninsured but do not qualify for Medicaid.  I hope to assist with other legislation to strengthen the ACA, including expansion of Medicaid and Medicare and development of a public option.

One major reason for the high price of healthcare is the escalating price of prescription drugs. Three months ago, Maryland became the first state in the country to pass legislation to let it sue manufacturers for price gouging on generic and off-patent drugs. However, much more needs to be done. In December, I endorsed the Prescription Drug Affordability Initiative, which seeks to eliminate the  “gag rule” preventing pharmacists from providing information about alternatives to patients, and creates a drug cost review commission to rein in the high cost of prescription drugs. As a physician, I know what happens when people don’t take their medications because they can’t afford them. Out-of-control drug prices are a life-or-death issue for my patients.

Healthcare and prescription drug affordability are human rights, and we must do all we can to ensure these rights are safe. There is an additional action we can all take today to improve health and well-being: get the flu shot. Vaccinations are safe, effective, and life-saving. A few seconds of discomfort can save weeks of discomfort, and even severe illness and death caused by influenza. This year’s flu is an epidemic that is the worst in a decade, and everyone who can get the flu shot should get it to protect ourselves, our family members, and those who are the most vulnerable including our babies.

Leana Wen, M.D., M.Sc.

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