ACTION ALERT: PLEASE ASK LEGISLATORS TO OPPOSE HB836 Which Implements Potentially Harmful and Expensive Covid-19 Response Measures
TEXT OF HB836 – COVID-19 TESTING, CONTACT TRACING, AND VACCINATION ACT OF 2021:
Requiring, on or before April 1, 2021, the Maryland Department of Health, in collaboration with local health departments of the State, to adopt and implement a certain plan to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19; requiring, for calendar year 2021, institutions of higher education in the State to adopt and implement a certain COVID-19 testing plan; requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide coverage for certain COVID-19 tests and associated costs; etc.
why icm opposes THis bill
- This bill would implement tremendously costly and potentially counterproductive measures to contain Covid-19. More targeted and reasonable countermeasures should be implemented.
- This bill proposes PCR testing as a primary means of screening for Covid-19 infection across the population, even for asymptomatic citizens who have no indication of infection. There is mounting evidence that PCR tests are widely inaccurate and inappropriate to use as a population-wide active screening tool.
- This bill would implement population-wide contact tracing when in fact tracing is a tool most appropriate to contain small outbreaks in the early stages of spread through a population.
- This bill could place potentially undue burden on seniors in assisted living facilities and their loved ones, who could be denied the basic freedom of movement and human contact which constitute a baseline standard of living. There is mounting evidence that the hospitalization and mortality curves remain relatively consistent across states with divergent policies regarding population-wide testing and isolation, even among asymptomatic and very low risk citizens.
- This bill would implement universal testing requirements which place an undue and counterproductive burden on college students, when there is mounting evidence that population-wide testing among asymptomatic people, particularly in low-risk populations, does not significantly reduce the spread of Covid-19.
Who to contact about HB836
There will be a hearing for HB836 before the Health and Government Operations Committee on 2/23/21 at 1:30 PM.
URGENT: We’re asking all members to call and email Delegate Peña-Melnyk and the members of Health and Government Operations Committee and let her know, in your own words, why you oppose HB836.
Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk
Phone 410-841-3502 | 301-858-3502 Toll-free in MD 1-800-492-7122 ext. 3502
e-mail: joseline.pena.melñyk@house.state.md.us
If you’re a constituent of hers – in District 21 – let her know!
Please copy and paste the following email addresses of the Health and Government Operations Committee members into the BCC section of your email in opposition of HB836:
Please call the offices of the Health and Government Operations Committee members in opposition of HB836:
Bagnall, Heather 410-841-3406 | 301-858-3406
Barron, Erek L. 410-841-3692 | 301-858-3692
Bhandari, Harry 410-841-3526 | 301-858-3526
Carr, Alfred C., Jr. 410-841-3638 | 301-858-3638
Charles, Nick 410-841-3707 | 301-858-3707
Chisholm, Brian 410-841-3206 | 301-858-3206
Cullison, Bonnie 410-841-3883 | 301-858-3883
Hill, Terri L. 410-841-3378 | 301-858-3378
Johnson, Steve 410-841-3280 | 301-858-3280
Kelly, Ariana B. 410-841-3642 | 301-858-3642
Kerr, Ken 410-841-3240 | 301-858-3240
Kipke, Nicholaus 410-841-3421 | 301-858-3421
Krebs, Susan W. 410-841-3200 | 301-858-3200
Lewis, Robbyn 410-841-3772 | 301-858-3772
Morgan, Matthew 410-841-3170 | 301-858-3170
Peña-Melnyk, Joseline 410-841-3502 | 301-858-3502
Pendergrass, Shane E. 410-841-3139 | 301-858-3139
Reilly, Teresa E. 410-841-3278 | 301-858-3278
Rosenberg, Samuel I. 410-841-3297 | 301-858-3297
Saab, Sid 410-841-3551 | 301-858-3551
Sample-Hughes, Sheree 410-841-3427 | 301-858-3427
Szeliga, Kathy 410-841-3698 | 301-858-3698
Young, Karen Lewis 410-841-3436 | 301-858-3436
Please note: Rules for submitting written and oral testimony have changed this year due to Covid-19 restrictions, and can be viewed here. We’re asking members for phone calls, emails, and written testimony only at this time.
Please spread the word! Let’s flood Delegate Peña-Melnyk’s office and the HGO members with polite, respectful, forceful emails and phone calls. They need to hear our voices!
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