opioids – Sandy Rosenberg

Digital and Opioid Risks

February 16, 2024 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

“Such [false, hateful and violent] content was more prevalent because numerous social media platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, had retreated from some of their past commitments related to election integrity.”

That’s the view of a report on digital risks to this year’s elections written by Researchers at the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. https://bhr.stern.nyu.edu/tech-elections-2024-report

I read about this study today and will summarize it for the Election Law Subcommittee as it considers my bill, HB 333, Election Law – Election Disinformation on Large Social Media Platforms and Influence Related to Voting.

Coverage for opioid reversal drugs and products would be required for Medicaid and certain private insurers under House Bill 736. There’s another source of funds for dealing with opioids, I reminded my colleagues during the bill hearing this afternoon.

All of the money the State of Maryland received from its settlement with prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors must be used to address the harms caused by this drug. I suggested to the witnesses that they also work with the council that recommends how this money should be allocated.

I sponsored the bill creating this system.

If we’ve already done it

February 4, 2021 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

There was only one early voting location in St. Mary’s County last fall. It was 14 miles away from the community with the highest concentration of low-income voters and voters of color in the county. Objections were raised, but the State Board of Elections was powerless to act.

My Voters Rights Protection Act (House Bill 57) would authorize the State Board of Elections to establish an additional polling place in a specific area if the Board determines that the absence of a polling place is discriminatory on the basis of race, color, religion, or disability.

Today I was asked to draft language that would identify who could make such a claim to the Board.

I’ve asked people who know Maryland’s election law far better than I do: “Is there relevant language in the Election Law article or elsewhere in the Code?”

If we’ve done it before, we’re more likely to do it again.

—

A settlement with McKinsey & Company for unfair opioids marketing was announced today by Attorney General Brian Frosh.

Maryland will receive more than $12 million.

I introduced the law requiring that the funds received from an opioid settlement be spent to address the problems associated with the opioid epidemic.

I will now see if reassurances are needed to make sure this happens.

Two to the House Floor

March 13, 2019 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

Favorable committee reports today for two of my bills.

The Opioid Restitution Fund would target the use of any funds the State receives from its lawsuits against the opioid manufacturers.

I didn’t lobby this bill. I didn’t need to.

My testimony made the case that we should address the problems caused by opioids.

The money can be used to improve access to treatment, organize education campaigns to prevent opioid use, and support research and training for substance abuse treatment and overdose prevention.

Without this legislation, the money could be used for any lawful purpose.

My bill to enable my constituent and others to remain on the voting rolls while living abroad is also headed to the House floor.

Excusing herself from jury duty put at risk her voter regiostration.

My constituent has no plans to return to Mt. Washington.

Under the amended bill, she cannot be called for jury duty for at least five years.

What happens after that is a problem I’ll address my next term in Annapolis.

A Friendly Amendment

February 25, 2019 | by delsandy | Uncategorized | No Comments

I frequently depend upon the insights of the readers of this diary.

Last Thursday, I wrote that I wasn’t going to repeat the mistake I made 20 years ago of letting money from the settlement with Big Tobacco go to Medicaid, instead of programs that would reduce the number of people who smoke.

My bill this year would create a fund for any monetary damages that the state receives from its lawsuit against the manufacturers and distributors of opioids.

None of the money would go to Medicaid.

Josh Sharfstein, the former Secretary of Health and Mental Hygiene, emailed me:

Medicaid was wrong for tobacco because the money went not just to [smoking] cessation services but to pay bills for all tobacco related consequences.

Bottom line—I would recommend modifying your provision to saying the money can be used for Medicaid, but only for new services, greater reimbursements, or the their care improvements…not to displace existing spending.

I told the chair of the committee that will act on my bill, Delegate Maggie McIntosh, that I would consider Josh’s proposal a friendly amendment.