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July 3, 2025

Chestertown Spy

Nonpartisan and Education-based News for Chestertown

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Health Health Notes

Hope Floats: Area Residents Juliet Taylor and Tim Abeska Partner with Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating to Host Benefit for Hop On A Cure

July 2, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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 Kent Island residents Juliet Taylor and Tim Abeska have partnered with Chesapeake Region Accessible Boating (CRAB) to host an intimate backyard fundraiser benefiting the ALS-focused foundation Hop On A Cure on Kent Island on July 26 from 6-9 p.m. local time. Donation to attend the event, which will feature a concert and special performance by Hop On A Cure co-founder and founding member of GRAMMY® Award-winning group Zac Brown Band, John Driskell Hopkins, is $500, and includes dinner and an open bar. The evening will also host a live auction, which includes a trip to Atlanta for the October 18 Harmony for Hope Hop On A Cure Gala. 

“We are honored to be working with Juliet and Tim on this wonderful backyard benefit for Hop On A Cure.  Their dedication and enthusiasm is very meaningful to everyone involved with this important cause,” commented Paul “Bo” Bollinger, President & CEO, of CRAB.

The event was inspired by Taylor and Abeska’s late spouses – both of whom passed from ALS in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Hopkins himself was diagnosed with the terminal illness in December of 2021 and, shortly after his diagnosis, co-founded Hop On A Cure with his wife, Jen, in an effort to spread awareness, educate the public, and raise funding for ALS research programs. To-date, Hop On A Cure has given over $4.2 million in grants to research programs at notable hospitals across the country, including Houston Methodist Medical Center, Duke University Hospital, and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as several independent programs, like The Packard Center. 

“Finding a cure for ALS isn’t an ‘if’ – it’s a ‘when,’” said Nic Shefrin, CEO of Hop On A Cure. “I don’t think people realize that a diagnosis of ALS is a terminal diagnosis. Events like the one Juliet and Tim are so graciously hosting help drive home the importance of educating others on ALS, and raising money for the hard-working researchers on the hunt for a cure.”

Those interested in attending the event can purchase tickets at HopOnACure.org. 


About Hop On A Cure Foundation:

Hop On A Cure started in 2022 after John Driskell Hopkins of Zac Brown Band was diagnosed with ALS. ALS is consistently one of the most underfunded diseases for research. Because of that, not much significant progress has been made since Lou Gehrig passed away from the disease in 1941. The mission of the foundation is to support research to prevent, reverse, and cure ALS while raising awareness, building a compassionate community, and unleashing the healing power of hope. For more information about Hop On A Cure, visit www.hoponacure.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

Let’s Talk About It with Beth Anne Dorman: Adolescence on Film and About Parents

July 1, 2025 by The Spy Leave a Comment

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As part of our ongoing monthly series on mental health, The Spy welcomes back Beth Anne Dorman, CEO of For All Seasons, to help us navigate one of the most urgent issues facing families today: the emotional toll of adolescence in the digital age.

This month’s conversation centers on the critically acclaimed Netflix series Adolescence, which has sparked national reflection on how social media shapes — and sometimes distorts — the lives of teenagers. With raw, emotional storytelling, the series captures the growing crisis among young people who, under the unrelenting gaze of online platforms, make irreversible decisions with devastating consequences.

Together, we explore the show’s relevance for Mid-Shore families, the warning signs adults often miss, and what community resources are available when young people find themselves overwhelmed by anxiety, shame, or hopelessness.

This video is approximately six minutes in length. For more information about For All Seasons, please go here. To read more about Adolescence on Netflix, please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Lead, Health Portal Lead

Rabbit, Rabbit. By Jamie Kirkpatrick

July 1, 2025 by Jamie Kirkpatrick Leave a Comment

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(Author’s Note: This recalls a Musing from December, 2020.)

It just so happens that the first day of this new month falls on a Museday, the weekday formerly known as Tuesday. I hope you all remembered to say “Rabbit Rabbit!” when you woke up this morning. If you did, July will be lucky for you. If you didn’t, you might want to stay in bed for the rest of the month. Just sayin’…

In case you don’t happen to practice rabbit-rabbitology, it works like this: upon waking on the first day of a new month, you must immediately say “Rabbit! Rabbit!” If you do, you’ll have good luck throughout the month. However, if you should happen to forget, well, some things are better left unsaid. Despite what Wikipedia thinks, this is not just a silly superstition; it’s a cold, hard fact—just ask all the lucky individuals who hit the lottery after shouting RABBIT RABBIT like a lunatic on the first day of their lucky month.

Some rabbiteers, especially British ones, believe it’s essential to invoke three rabbits upon waking, not just two. I think that’s a bit of overkill but so what? We need all the luck we can get these days. Who knows? Maybe if I remember to say “Rabbit! Rabbit!” on the first day of August, I’ll wake up to find out these last few months were just a bad dream.

Rabbits, especially ones with cute little feet, have always been associated with good luck. Why is that? Why don’t we have key chains featuring curly pig’s tails or furry llama’s ears? I’m surprised that PETA hasn’t done as much to protect rabbits’ feet as it has to safeguard all those feisty minks from the mean furriers who would make them into fashionable fur coats. My wife has one such coat hidden away in a closet, far from the prying eyes of any anyone who might make her life miserable if she wore it to the grocery store on some frosty winter day. She claims it isn’t really hers —“it belonged to my mother!”—so, of course, she’s not culpable.

Back in the day, we used rabbit ears for better reception on our old black-and-white television sets. Was that because their ears were as lucky as their feet? What about their little cottontails? Aren’t they lucky, too? All the rabbits I know have refused to comment on the matter.

Rabbits abound—as they are wont to do—in literature. Peter bedeviled Mr. McGregor in his garden. Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail are beloved by generations of children, as is Margery Williams’ “Velveteen Rabbit.” It was the White Rabbit, running late as usual, who led Alice down to Wonderland, and that same rabbit caused my generation to tune in to Grace Slick and the Jefferson Airplane. My own two children loved their tactile storybook “Pat the Bunny,” while I, reader of record in our household, preferred Richard Adams’ debut novel, “Watership Down,” a wonderful story about a nest of rabbits seeking to establish a new home after their old warren was destroyed. That book was rejected seven times before Rex Collings, Ltd, a one-man publishing operation in London, saw the light in 1972. The book won several major awards and became a series on Netflix. How’s that for good luck!!

Some people believe luck is self-made. One works hard or practices hard, and, lo-and-behold, one gets lucky. Maybe, but I prefer to thank those two (or three) little rabbits who are working hard to send a monthly dose of good luck to all those of us who believe in them. I think of them akin to Santa’s elves, laboring away up in their North Pole workshop, big ears and all.

Rabbits have always been symbols of fertility. At Easter, one even shows up with a basket full of colored eggs, a mixed metaphor if ever I saw one. Maybe that’s a rabbit’s dirty little secret: a rabbit can even get lucky with a chicken.

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. His editorials and reviews have appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. His most recent novel, “The Tales of Bismuth; Dispatches from Palestine, 1945-1948” explores the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is available on Amazon and in local bookstores. His newest novel, “The People Game,” hits the market in February, 2026. His website is musingjamie.net.

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 3 Top Story, Health Homepage Highlights, Jamie

Erectile Dysfunction on the Shore: A Chat with Dr. Robert McDonough

June 30, 2025 by The Spy Leave a Comment

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As Men’s Health Month draws to a close, The Spy, in collaboration with Shore Regional Health, felt it was a good time for a candid and timely conversation about erectile dysfunction.

Long considered too personal or stigmatized to discuss openly, ED has increasingly come into the light over the past decade, as veterans, accident survivors, and aging men seek medical solutions to restore not only sexual function but a sense of vitality and wholeness.

To help us explore this important topic, we spoke with Dr. Robert McDonough, who outlines the full range of treatment options available today. More importantly, he explains why ED is often more than a quality-of-life concern—it can be an early indicator of severe vascular or cardiac conditions that deserve urgent attention.

This video is approximately seven minutes in length. For more information about ED treatment at Shore Regional Health please go here. 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Lead, Health Portal Lead

For All Seasons Prioritizes Community Needs with Renovation Amid Federal Cutbacks

June 30, 2025 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

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In a strategic move to make mental health care more accessible and visible, For All Seasons is taking its mission straight to the heart of the community—Main Street.

For nearly four decades, this nonprofit behavioral health and rape crisis center has served residents across Maryland’s Mid-Shore region. Although federal and state budget challenges are looming large, For All Seasons is still moving forward with its comprehensive plan to expand, relocate, and renovate its spaces to better serve the growing needs of the community.

The initiative, aptly named “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street,” is not just about geography—it is about visibility, dignity, and meeting people where they are.

Beginning July 1, For All Seasons will launch a significant renovation of its central office at 300 Talbot Street in Easton, one of its busiest and most historic locations. The renovation will modernize and expand the space, allowing the organization to consolidate its Talbot County clinical services and rape crisis response under one roof. This redesign also supports a more welcoming, trauma-informed experience for clients. In tandem, some administrative teams will relocate to 111 E. Dover Street in downtown Easton, a newly secured space that will also house the agency’s Center for Learning. This program offers professional workshops, community classes, and prevention education—critical tools in addressing the root causes of mental health struggles and violence.

This is not For All Seasons’ first leap toward a more visible presence. In recent years, the agency has relocated offices in Denton and Chestertown to downtown storefronts, making services more accessible without stigma or confusion. The next step? Cambridge. A new main street location is expected to be announced in September, continuing the trend of neighborhood-based, highly accessible care.

While the agency’s long-term goals remain unchanged, significant reductions in state and federal funding have prompted For All Seasons to adjust the timeline of its Main Street expansion. Rather than halt progress, the organization is launching a comprehensive fundraising campaign to ensure the project’s continued momentum. This pivot allows the agency to proceed with renovations at 300 Talbot Street and relocate some services while giving time to secure the remaining capital needed for future phases of the plan. The shift reflects both flexibility and resilience, ensuring that growth remains steady without compromising care.

“We are pivoting—not pausing,” said Beth Anne Dorman, President & CEO of For All Seasons. “Our supporters have always believed in the power of accessible mental health care. This moment gives us the opportunity to rally our community and build something even stronger, together.”

To date, the agency has secured critical project support from the Talbot County Council, the State of Maryland, and the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, helping to launch the renovation phase in Easton. The next steps will depend on community fundraising and donor engagement, ensuring that the full vision of “Bringing Mental Health to Main Street” can be realized.

Renovations at 300 Talbot Street will take place between July 2025 and March 2026. To ensure continuity of care, For All Seasons:

  • Open Access services will temporarily be relocated to 8221 Teal Drive in Easton.
  • Remote appointments will be expanded to reduce disruption.
  • Clients are urged to stay informed through email, mail, the On-Call platform, and by contacting For All Seasons Client Services directly at 410-822-1018.

“Our ‘Bringing Mental Health to Main Street’ initiative sends a powerful message to the community: mental health care is not hidden, it’s central. It’s not distant, it’s here. With the community’s support and the agency’s unwavering commitment, help is never far away,” shares Dorman.

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

The Urgent Call to Expand the PACT Act to Cover VOC-Exposed Veterans in Kent County

June 26, 2025 by The Spy Desk Leave a Comment

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Service members do not have the privilege to choose the environments where they can serve. However, they should be able to count on their country for care when their duty exposes them to harmful substances, causing serious illnesses. Acknowledging this responsibility, the Senate ratified the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) in 2022. This landmark legislation marked a monumental shift in how the nation supports its veterans as it extends its scope to include over 20 presumptive conditions linked to exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, radiation, and other hazardous substances encountered during active duty. It was a long-overdue recognition that those who risked their lives for the country deserve more than bureaucratic indifference when their health suffers later.

Yet despite its strides, the PACT Act still leaves too many behind, as it excludes exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a group of vaporous chemicals associated with various severe health conditions. This omission is not just a policy gap but also a justice failure.

Why VOC Exposure Must Be Covered by the PACT Act for Kent County Veterans

VOCs are gaseous chemicals released into the air from a variety of solid and liquid products and industrial processes. Due to their high vapor pressure and low water solubility, these compounds have become a staple in many applications. These include fuel oxygenates like methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), degreasers, industrial solvents such as trichloroethylene (TCE), and by-products produced by chlorination in water treatment like chloroform. Even the military has used VOCs in routine activities, such as vehicle painting, jet propulsion fuel (JP-8) handling, marine fueling, cargo management, and tank cleaning and venting. As a result, exposure to these volatile chemicals has been widespread and almost inevitable for numerous service members.

The health effects of this heavy reliance are deeply concerning. Studies have shown that these substances can interact with biological systems even at low levels, increasing the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and cancers of the lung, nose, throat, bladder, intestine, liver, and kidney. Prolonged exposure has also been associated with central nervous system impairment, immunosuppression, and chronic inflammation.

These findings underscore the critical need to treat VOC-related illnesses with the same urgency and recognition as other military toxic exposures, especially since this concern is already prevalent even in Maryland.  In fact, military installations such as Fort Detrick have a long history of contamination from VOCs. In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency added the Fort Detrick Area B Groundwater to the Superfund National Priorities List, officially recognizing it as one of the nation’s most hazardous sites due to widespread VOCs pollution in the groundwater linked to decades of chemical disposal practices. With over 324.000 veterans statewide, including 1.300 in Kent County, the potential impact of contamination at former military sites is especially significant for those who may have been exposed during their service.

Service members who lived, worked, and trained at these military installations were frequently exposed to VOCs. Yet despite mounting evidence proving the dangers of such toxic substances, the federal government still does not recognize a presumption of service connection for illnesses related to these exposures. Consequently, affected personnel are left to bear the burden of establishing direct causation—a challenging process that can delay treatment, strain personal resources, and, ultimately, deny timely access to care.

The Challenges of Proving VOC-Related Illnesses

Without presumptive status, veterans exposed to VOCs are bound to confront an uphill battle to prove that their illnesses are related to their service. The claims process is often complicated as it is typically fraught with longer adjudication and frequent denials. Claimants must usually provide medical and service records to meet the necessary criteria, but such documents are often incomplete or lost, which makes the situation even more difficult.

This circumstance is not only frustrating—it is also burdensome. Veterans already dealing with life-threatening illnesses and accumulating medical bills may also have to deal with the psychological impact of a fragmented system that does not acknowledge their struggles.

Including VOC Exposure is More Than a Moral Imperative

Veterans did not choose what they were exposed to during their service, so they should not have to fight for recognition afterward. As the PACT Act expanded benefits for Agent Orange and burn pit victims, it should also be amended to include VOC exposure, as this has been proven to be a critical occupational hazard.

Some policymakers have already begun to realize the extent of this issue, but recognition alone is not enough—legislative action is what is necessary. Just as we united to support those affected by Agent Orange and burn pits, we must now do the same for victims of VOC exposure. Lawmakers should expand the list of presumptive conditions to include those related to this occupational hazard. This is not a request for special treatment but a call for fairness. Veterans, including those in Maryland, have served honorably. By doing what is right for them, we can finally acknowledge their sacrifices and deliver the justice they deserve.

About the Author

Jordan Cade is an environmental health lawyer at Environmental Litigation Group P.C., where he advocates for veterans seeking compensation for illnesses linked to VOC exposure at contaminated military sites, including Fort Detrick.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Archives, Health Lead

Morning, Noon, and Night By Jamie Kirkpatrick

June 24, 2025 by Jamie Kirkpatrick 1 Comment

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Morning:

I know a place where the view never gets old. The back deck faces almost due east, and at daybreak, the sky glows with promise, especially today because we’re at the summer solstice, the first full day of summer and the longest day of the year. There’s both promise and warning here: the forecast promises sunny and warm (but not too warm!) weather, perfect for a wedding ceremony later in the day. But warning, too: we’ve turned another planetary corner and now, we’re headed back into darkness. It will take months to get there, but this turning is as inevitable as it is worrisome. Time is passing…

But let’s just take today as it comes. Two young people will be taking the plunge, joining their lives and families together in ties that bind, no matter what may come. That is worthy of celebration and more— of hope. God knows we need all the hope we can get these days, and so we’ll witness their vows, then sing and dance ’til the cows come home, and since it’s the summer solstice, I’m sure those cows will be celebrating until the wee hours of another morning. That’s how it should be, isn’t it?

Noon:

 There was a time when I believed I was made of iron, and that the universe was a benevolent place, capable of human manipulation. I stood atop mountains and surveyed my domains like Alexander the Great, or Genghis Khan, or even Louis XIV, the “Sun King.” But now I think I was more like Ozymandias, Percy Bysshe Shelley’s fabled “King of Kings,” whose “frown, and wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command” said everything there was to say about mortal hubris, but nothing about the ravages of time. When a traveler from an antique land stumbled upon a crumbling statue in the desert, all that remained of Ozymandias’ was his shattered visage and the haunting inscription on the statue’s pedestal: “Look on my works, ye mighty and despair!” On that day, this once great king of kings was trunkless and decayed, a “colossal wreck,” in an empty landscape “boundless and bare,” where “the lone and level sands stretch far away.”

But I didn’t know any of that at my noon. Then, there was more daylight ahead of me than behind, so I went blithely about my own business, deaf to the barely audible ticking of the clock. It seemed to me there was time enough for everything, and everything seemed possible. If there were thunderstorms on the horizon, I didn’t see them coming my way. I just rowed merrily along on a boundless incoming tide, oblivious to rapids that lay upriver.

Night:

And now it’s getting dark, the sun is setting. The evening light glows warm and lovely, but it also hides the stones that lie beneath the surface and the shadows that lurk along the riverbank. I need to find a place to rest for the night.

A few days ago, I learned that someone I once cared for deeply had died. That was bad enough, but to make matters worse, she had died two years ago, the victim of a cruel and relentless disease. And I never knew she was gone; I didn’t feel her passing in my bones. The whispering universe that had once been my friend forgot to tell me of her struggle and pain. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything about that, but I just should have known. I would like to have been able to say goodbye to her, if only to myself.

I’ll be right back.

Jamie Kirkpatrick is a writer and photographer who lives on both sides of the Chesapeake Bay. His work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Washington College Alumni Magazine, and American Cowboy Magazine. His most recent novel, “The Tales of Bismuth; Dispatches from Palestine, 1945-1948” explores the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is available on Amazon and in local bookstores. His website is musingjamie.net.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: 3 Top Story, Health Homepage Highlights, Jamie

Choptank Health Welcomes Bridget Allison, CRNP, to Federalsburg Health Center

June 24, 2025 by Choptank Community Health Leave a Comment

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Choptank Community Health System’s medical and women’s health care team recently welcomed Family Nurse Practitioner Bridget Allison, CRNP, to the Federalsburg Health Center.

Allison is a Federalsburg native and a Colonel Richardson High School alumnus. Allison brings more than a decade of medical experience to Choptank Health’s care team, including work in hospital settings and a focus on pediatrics, maternal, and child health.

She earned a post-master’s certificate from Wilmington University’s family nurse practitioner program and holds a master’s degree in nursing education from Wilmington University.

Allison also earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in health education, community health, from Salisbury University. Her academic achievement, leadership, and character earned her membership in the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society.


Choptank Community Health System provides medical and dental services in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot counties to more than 30,000 adults and children, including school-based health in all five counties, with a mission to provide access to exceptional, comprehensive, and integrated healthcare for all.

Choptank Health patients can schedule an appointment by calling the Federalsburg Health Center at 410-754-9021, with more information at www.choptankhealth.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health Notes

UMd Medical System Sues Medicaid Insurer for $15 Million in Unpaid Services

June 18, 2025 by Maryland Matters Leave a Comment

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The University of Maryland Medical System is suing a Maryland Medicaid insurer that it claims “unlawfully” denied $15 million in claims for medical care delivered in UMMS emergency rooms over the last three years.

The complaint alleges that Maryland Physicians Care MCO broke legal and contractual obligations by denying payment not as “a reasonable disagreement over medical judgment” but in a “broad, bad-faith refusal to acknowledge the realities of patient care, driven by a pursuit of enhanced profitability.”

The suit, filed Monday in Baltimore City Circuit Court, asks the court to declare that Maryland Physicians Care wrongfully denied claims for certain emergency care and to make it pay the $15 million the medical system believes it is owed. UMMS also wants the court to prohibit the managed care organization’s use of its current automatic claims approval system.

Maryland Physicians Care CEO Jason Rottman said the company believes it has acted lawfully, and it “strongly disputes the University of Maryland Medical System’s unfounded characterizations.”

“We have worked in good faith to address these concerns with the University of Maryland Medical System and have engaged in dialogue to seek resolution,” Rottman said in a statement Monday.

Maryland Physicians Care is one of nine Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) in Maryland. Medicaid MCOs receive federal and state tax dollars to cover medical care for those who qualify for Medicaid, including in emergency rooms.

Health systems such as UMMS are supposed to be reimbursed for medical services provided in emergency situations under certain circumstances. But the lawsuit claims that Maryland Physicians Care has unlawfully denied claims that should have been covered.

Federal law uses the “prudent layperson” rule to determine whether or not a claim in an emergency setting is covered. That means that if a person with an average knowledge of health and medicine went to an emergency room because they reasonably believed their symptoms required immediate medical attention, insurers should pay hospitals for that care, regardless of the outcome.

But UMMS alleges that Maryland Physicians Care instead relies on its internal system, called the “Sudden and Serious” list, that automatically approves or denies claims based on diagnosis. The list’s definition of what qualifies as an emergency is more narrow than the prudent layperson standard, the suit says.

It says MPC also regularly denies claims based on the entire medical record of the emergency visit, not the layperson’s initial assessment, which “intentionally ignores” the prudent layperson standard.

As a result,Maryland Physicians Care has improperly denied payment for medical care UMMS provided to more the 15,000 patients, resulting in $15 million in unpaid services, including interest, over the last three years, the lawsuit says.

The suit cites the case where a man was in recovery from a motor vehicle accident who experienced significant abdominal pain. The physician ordered a CT scan for the man’s chest and spine, but Maryland Physicians Care denied payment for the scans, saying the symptoms were not “acute” symptoms of sufficient severity to justify CT scans. UMMS appealed that decision, and a third-party review organization sided with the hospital system.

UMMS also claims that Maryland Physicians Care withheld payment for sustained hospital care, citing the case of a patient with multiple conditions – including a recent stroke, HIV, COVID-19 and sepsis – who was hospitalized for three months. Maryland Physicians Care denied coverage for portions of the hospital stay, “asserting—without any credible clinical basis—that the patient could have been safely discharged,” according to the complaint.

UMMS said denials extended to even “the most fragile newborns,” pointing to an infant born three months prematurely, who weighed about a pound and had been exposed to fentanyl and cocaine in utero. The infant had significant medical need due to “extreme respiratory distress, recurrent apnea, severe feeding intolerance, and numerous other comorbidities associated with extreme prematurity,” the suit said.

“It is hard to conceive of a patient more in need of, and deserving of, intense clinical intervention. And yet, MPC denied significant portions of her treatment—questioning the need for care even during the height of her clinical instability,” the complaint says.

But Rottman said Maryland Physicians Care adheres to state and federal laws for claims.

“Maryland Physicians Care … is committed to the highest standards of integrity and compliance in administering health benefits since 1997 on behalf of our partner, the Maryland Department of Health,” Rottman’s statement said.

“We strictly adhere to all state and federal rules and guidelines as our policies and procedures are regularly reviewed by the MD Department of Health as well as national accrediting bodies,” his statement said. “The rigorous reviews consistently confirm that we meet regulatory requirements.”

 


by Danielle J. Brown, Maryland Matters
June 18, 2025

Maryland Matters is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Maryland Matters maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Steve Crane for questions: [email protected].

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

Filed Under: Health

Prioritizing Children’s Mental Health in the Summer

June 18, 2025 by For All Seasons, Inc. Leave a Comment

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Summer is supposed to be a happy time for children, but sometimes it requires special attention to children’s mental health. Although prioritizing children’s mental health is important every day, the summer months bring several changes that make it one of the most crucial times of the year to monitor how children are adjusting.

Summer Challenges for Children:

  • Changes in routine can cause anxiety or difficult adaptation
  • Increased free time can lead to social isolation, feelings of rejection, or fear of missing out (FOMO)
  • Pressure and expectations of new summer programming and activities can contribute to stress and anxiety
  • Feeling disappointed that summer vacation didn’t live up to expectations
  • Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) can appear in the summer months and lead to mood, sleep, and appetite changes

Signs of Children’s Depression/Anxiety:

  • Persistent sadness or irritability
  • Changes in sleep patterns – difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or excessive sleepiness
  • Changes in appetite: a significant decrease or increase over time
  • Social withdrawal – lack of interest in activities or spending less time with others
  • Loss of interest in activities or hobbies previously enjoyed
  • Decreased energy and fatigue – consistently tired, lack of energy, or decrease in activity level
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Physical symptoms – headaches, stomachaches, or other physical discomforts without a medical cause
  • Self-critical or negative thoughts – having an overly negative view of themselves

Ways to Help:

  • Spending time outdoors doing physical activity has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health
  • Connecting daily (even for short periods) to do an activity together, such as going for a walk, or playing a game
  • Creating a supportive environment with open communication and where children are encouraged to discuss how they feel
  • Have children take a break from social media – setting limits and modeling your own limits on screentime
  • If you notice persistent or concerning signs in your child, seek guidance from a qualified mental health professional

For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

For further information, visit the For All Seasons summer tips page at https://files.constantcontact.com/36143a1c701/cd902690-5ed1-4964-849c-940cef4e13ec.pdf.

 Sources: https://www.brylin.com/prioritizing-childrens-mental-health-in-summer/; https://prairie-care.com/resources/type/blog/summer-depression/.


For All Seasons provides the highest quality mental health and victim services to children, adults, and families across the Mid-Shore and throughout the state of Maryland. Services are offered in both English and Spanish and include therapy, psychiatry, victim advocacy, 24-hour crisis hotlines, outreach, and community education. For information about For All Seasons walk-in hours, contact For All Seasons at 410-822-1018 or visit ForAllSeasonsInc.org.

The Spy Newspapers may periodically employ the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the clarity and accuracy of our content.

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