Deliver a Stronger Health Care System
Delivering a Stronger, Smarter Health Care System for Every Resident
America is in the middle of a health care crisis. Costs are spiraling, outcomes are uneven, and the very institutions meant to heal us—insurers, hospital systems and Big Pharma—have become some of the most mistrusted players in our society.
We can’t rewrite federal law or undo decades of profit-first policies. But we can do what local government is meant to do: take care of each other.
Baltimore County has a moral obligation to build a community rooted in care and compassion. That means investing in caregivers, holding health care institutions accountable and creating systems where quality care can thrive. We may not fix every failure in the national system, but we can make sure that every patient, nurse and neighbor in our county is seen, supported and treated with dignity.
Lower Costs and Pool Our Power
We can save money and improve coverage by working smarter with the resources we already have.
- Health Insurance Pooling: Implement a County–State pooling strategy, following the recommendations of the 2022 Baltimore County Commission on Procurement, Purchasing and Contracting. Pooling Baltimore County and BCPS employee insurance contracts with the State of Maryland could save millions each year while reducing out-of-pocket costs for our workforce.
Transforming Emergency Room Services: B-REACT
Leverage our partnerships to launch the Baltimore Regional Emergency Action & Coordination Taskforce (B-REACT), bringing together Baltimore County and City agencies, health systems and community organizations.
- Action Mandate: Develop a regional, data-driven plan to reduce ER wait times and improve care for patients experiencing physical or behavioral health crises.
- Pilot Programs: Deploy grant-funded pilots in year one to deliver measurable improvements in priority emergency care metrics, with successful pilots scaled into long-term programs.
- REACT Report Card: Create a public dashboard to track wait times, staff working conditions, triage success rates and other key metrics, with bi-annual reviews for transparency and accountability.
Support Our Caregivers and Confront Burnout
Caregivers are the backbone of our health system. We must give them the resources and respect they deserve.
- Caregiver Resilience Fund: Launch a countywide program modeled after UHF and ANF’s $3.1 million pilot, offering tax incentives and competitive grants for health care organizations that prioritize employee wellness through better scheduling, mental health services and transparent staffing policies.
- Workforce Innovation Partnership: Collaborate with the State’s Direct Care Workforce Innovation Program to scale proven retention strategies and improve workplace conditions for front-line workers.
Prioritize Behavioral Health Crisis Management
We cannot afford to keep sending people in crisis into overcrowded ERs that are not designed for them.
- Crisis Stabilization Center: Support funding and permitting for the proposed Behavioral Health Crisis Stabilization Center outlined in the 2025 County Crisis System Needs Analysis. This facility will relieve pressure on emergency rooms and provide specialized, effective care—especially for youth and young adults.
Close Gaps in Community Health
The health of our communities is shaped not just by hospitals and clinics, but by the social determinants of health—housing, income, transportation, education and access to information. To build a true picture of health in Baltimore County, we must invest in outreach, equity and partnerships that connect people to care where they live.
- Designate a dedicated outreach coordinator to lead a public health and education team at community events, nonprofit health fairs and neighborhood gatherings—raising awareness of available services and directly providing care such as vaccinations, blood pressure screenings and diabetes testing, with a focus on reaching disadvantaged communities.
- Expand the capacity of the Department of Health by strengthening partnerships with nonprofits, community leaders and health care providers to ensure that public health communications are trusted, accessible and effectively delivered across all communities.
Leading with Care
We will act with urgency to build a county that cares—supporting those who care for us and ensuring every patient is treated with dignity.