2019 LEGISLATIVE ARCHIVE
During the 2019 legislative session, MACHO weighed in on 156 bills, advocating for local public health issues across Maryland.
Tobacco 21
On May 13, 2019, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed a measure to raise the age for buying tobacco and nicotine products from 18 to 21 — after carving out an exemption for members of the military. MACHO supported the legislation, which aimed at protecting teens from the harmful health effects of smoking and was implemented statewide on October 1, 2019. To date, 485 cities and counties in 29 states have enacted Tobacco 21 legislation. Read more about MACHO's support for raising the age for buying tobacco and nicotine product to 21 in Maryland.
Prescription Drug Monitoring
Governor Hogan signed a bill requiring, instead of authorizing, the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) to review prescription monitoring data for indications of possible misuse or abuse of monitored prescription drugs and report questionable activity and provide education to the prescriber or dispenser. The legislation also requires the PDMP to supply data to the Office of Controlled Substances Administration for further investigation. Read more about the legislation MACHO supported in 2019.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
During the 2019 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed a bill to create a statewide system of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to address the problem of opioid use disorders in local jails. The legislation requires State funding of assessments and treatment for inmates in local correctional facilities and brings uniformity to the administration of this treatment. Programs in Baltimore City's pretrial detention center and at jails in Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties would begin by January, and all jails would have programs running by January 1, 2023. Read more about MACHO's support for using MAT to combat opioid use disorders in correctional facilities.
Before It's Too Late
Before It’s Too Late is the statewide effort to bring awareness to the rapid escalation of the heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis in Maryland -- and to mobilize all available resources for effective prevention, treatment, and recovery. More rapid and increased coordination among state agencies and local jurisdictions combatting this crisis was made possible by a $50 million, five-year commitment and an executive order signed by Governor Larry Hogan on March 1, 2017, which declared a State of Emergency.
On August 29, 2019, the Hogan administration announced the availability of nearly $6 million in competitive grants to fight the opioid crisis, plus $4 million in block grants distributed to local Opioid Intervention Teams for each jurisdiction to determine how best to fight the opioid epidemic. Read more.
Marylanders grappling with a substance use disorder can find help at beforeitstoolate.maryland.gov, by dialing 211 and pressing 1, or by texting their zip code to 898-211 (TXT-211).
Related Issues that MACHO Supported or Opposed in 2019
- Supported: Treating e-cigarette devices like tobacco products for taxation purposes and purchase age restrictions
- Supported: Permitting medical directors of behavioral health programs licensed as outpatient mental health centers to satisfy any regulatory requirement to be onsite through the use of telehealth
- Opposed: Exempting motorcycle riders from wearing helmets
- Opposed: Requiring local health departments to do work that was not clinically advised or perform activities without the funding or staffing to support them