Van Hollen, Brown Tour Anne Arundel Medical Center Campus

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (MD) and Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04) toured the Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) campus with President/CEO Victoria Bayless. During the visit, Congressman Brown and Senator Van Hollen viewed the James and Sylvia Earl Simulation to Advance Innovation and Learning (SAIL) Center and the Clatanoff Pavilion for women and children's care services. They also spoke with specialized care professionals throughout the visit to discuss research, behavioral health, and opioid and substance abuse treatments.

"Touring the Anne Arundel Medical Center was an opportunity for me to see first-hand the great work they're doing to serve this community," said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Budget Committees. "The work they do here - from their cutting-edge training programs, to their innovative Pathways substance abuse treatment center, to their first-rate delivery and maternity unit - is crucial to the entire area. I will keep working in Congress to ensure our medical facilities have the resources they need to continue to address our state's health concerns, including the opioid epidemic, and provide quality care to Marylanders."

"I remain committed to ensuring Marylanders have the high quality, affordable health care they need, and we are fortunate enough to have the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Maryland's Fourth District," said Congressman Brown. "They continue to be an upstanding community partner and a cornerstone that Marylanders can rely on for their care. Yet, this tour reminds us that there are steps Congress should take today to strengthen our healthcare system and stabilize our private health insurance markets. This includes funding cost-sharing reduction payments for lower income Americans, renewing the Children's Health Insurance Program, and making the investments to improve care for those with substance use disorders."

A number of policy and legislative items were discussed during the tour including Maryland's unique All Payer Hospital Model, which has allowed the state to contain cost, expand access and limit cost-shifting - producing $429 million in hospital savings to the Medicare program. Further, it was stressed that Congress act to make quality health insurance more available and affordable by funding cost-sharing reduction payments and making no cuts to Medicaid to the Children's Health Insurance Program. Hospital officials also outlined their response to the opioid epidemic including efforts to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed by 50 percent by 2019.

"We are constantly engaged in work here at Anne Arundel Medical Center to deliver the highest quality and most innovative care to our community. We were thrilled to give Congressman Brown and Senator Van Hollen a glimpse into that work today and appreciate their interest in what we do," said Anne Arundel Medical Center's President/CEO Victoria Bayless.

Anne Arundel Medical Center is one of Maryland's leading care providers, serving an area of one million people through its six regional facilities. With nearly 5,000 full-time employees, AAMC is often recognized for its cancer care, joint replacement, and women and children's services practices.

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