Election Day is approaching—November 8. The first ballots in Maryland’s general election may already have been cast via mail, and early voting begins in earnest on October 27—less than three weeks from today.

Your MHA team has been busy connecting with new and prospective elected officials, communicating the importance of hospitals, health systems, and their employees—who comprise the state’s largest private sector industry.

All statewide officers will change this cycle, and we expect to see more than 40 new legislators sworn in. With this large turnover, your voice and your experience caring for patients and communities are crucial.

To help demonstrate the collective strength of our field, we launched our Caring4Md, Voting4Md campaign ahead of the primary election. We hosted well-attended virtual forums for hospital leaders to get to know—and to question—leading candidates for governor. That includes Wes Moore, who is now the Democratic nominee.

We also compiled candidate questionnaires for gubernatorial and legislative candidates. Their responses and other resources to encourage hospital and health system associates to get out and vote are available on our website.

At the same time, we are solidifying our key asks for the 2023 legislative session that begins in January. We’ll prioritize efforts to strengthen our workforce, expand access to care, support behavioral health patients, and make our state’s medical liability rules fairer.

Let’s all fulfill our civic duty this election season and choose public leaders who appreciate the needs of the health care field.

Bob Atlas
President & CEO