AGP Executive Report

Public Health Alert: Maryland and Baltimore health departments are warning that the veterinary sedative medetomidine is showing up more often in illicit drugs, with officials saying it can cause severe withdrawal that may be fatal—especially when mixed with opioids—urging people who use drugs to use test strips. Community Grants: AARP announced $95,225 in 2026 Community Challenge grants for nine Maryland organizations, backing quick-action projects aimed at improving mobility, social connection, housing, digital access, and disaster preparedness for older adults. Healthcare Workforce: More than 240 healthcare providers graduated from National Capital Consortium programs in Bethesda, including internships, residencies, and fellowships tied to military and federal health training. Policy & Consumer Health: Maryland’s attorney general coalition welcomed Shopify’s move to ban all e-cigarette sales on its platform, citing youth vaping harms and FDA authorization requirements. Local Governance: Baltimore City Council unanimously passed its FY2027 budget, with residents weighing priorities including public safety and support for worker cooperatives.

Health Policy & Access: A new federal-style push via Moms.gov is sending people with difficult pregnancies to crisis pregnancy centers, raising concerns that some centers’ “rule out” messaging around ectopic pregnancy relies on limited ultrasound and can delay urgent care. Public Health & Food Safety: Clover Hill Dairy expanded a multi-state cheese recall after possible Listeria contamination tied to a deadly outbreak; Maryland shoppers are urged to check for affected products that may be relabeled. Care Delivery & Workforce: A Maryland-based physician highlights sleep as a practical primary-care lever for cardiovascular risk, aligning with the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 focus on sleep. Medicare/Insurance Oversight: CareFirst of Maryland filed a civil RICO lawsuit alleging a years-long scheme by an Olney insurance broker to enroll ineligible people in Maryland-reserved plans, seeking more than $50 million in damages. Community Health: Maryland’s opioid deaths hit a 10-year low, down 57% since the pandemic peak, according to coverage this week. Local Governance: Maryland’s primary results set up new U.S. House nominees, including Adrian Boafo for the 5th District and April McClain Delaney for the 6th, with healthcare policy likely to be a key campaign theme.

Tick-borne disease surge: A new CDC-backed look at rising Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses points to warmer winters, longer tick seasons, and more human contact with deer and mice as key drivers—an issue Maryland clinicians and public health teams are likely to keep watching. Medicare Advantage disruption in Maryland: New analysis says about 1 in 10 Medicare Advantage members nationwide could be forced out of plans for 2026, with Maryland among the states hit hardest—meaning beneficiaries may need to act quickly to avoid coverage gaps. Health-care fraud crackdown: The DOJ announced a major national takedown involving 455 defendants and more than $6.5 billion in alleged false claims, including 90 licensed medical professionals—another reminder of enforcement pressure on providers. Workforce and health jobs: Maryland’s employment rose by 5,100 jobs in May, with Health Care and Social Assistance adding about 2,000 jobs, underscoring continued demand in the sector. Men’s Health Month: Maryland’s health secretary is urging men and boys to schedule checkups and screenings, emphasizing that preventable conditions can be missed when people skip routine care.

Cardiometabolic Care Push: Johns Hopkins’ Chiadi Ndumele says a new American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guideline treats heart, kidney, and metabolic risk as one connected problem—aiming to improve screening and prevention for people with Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, and chronic kidney disease. Dermatology Warning: A Maryland dermatologist warns Gen Z “tanmaxxing” and tanning booths aren’t safe—UV damage is cumulative and raises skin cancer risk. Public Health Alert: Uisce Éireann issued a precautionary boil water notice for about 8,125 customers on the Ballyhilty Public Water Supply in West Cork after an operational issue at the Ballyhilty Water Treatment Plant, with affected areas including Skibbereen and Schull. Wellness in Buildings: Marriott signed Fitwel as its first enterprise partner to roll out healthy-building wellness standards across its global branded residences portfolio. Measles Watch: Maryland reported a fourth measles case of 2026 tied to an international traveler; officials stress vaccination helps prevent sustained spread. Health Tech Caution: A new study found identical samples can produce wildly different results across at-home gut microbiome tests, raising questions about consistency.

Food Safety: CDC/FDA linked a Clover Hill Dairy listeria outbreak to soft ricotta and requesón cheese, with 1 death and 8 hospitalizations across Maryland, New York and Virginia; the dairy recalled all cheese varieties and Maryland health officials suspended its operating license. Maternal Health: WBAL reports a Reisterstown mother’s repeated postpartum complications from retained placenta and infection, with doctors urging patients to seek care sooner and expanding how long postpartum risk should be considered. Sleep Medicine: New SLEEP 2026 data in Baltimore show alixorexton meeting key goals for narcolepsy type 2, adding momentum to oral orexin-targeting treatments. Community Health Access: Maryland’s Summer Food Service Program is underway, offering free meals to kids and teens at 1,400+ sites statewide. Public Health & Wellness Support: A new AHEC show, “Healthy Together,” will expand coverage of health and social supports like food, mental health and utility help. Health Care Fraud: DOJ says a nursing school owner pleaded guilty for selling nearly 3,000 fake nursing diplomas nationwide, enabling untrained people to pass board exams and work in healthcare. Injury & Emergency Response: A single-engine plane crash in Bowie killed three on board; separately, a Maryland woman died in a Rehoboth Beach e-bike crash.

Energy & Utilities: A Daily Record panel on June 18 weighed how Maryland’s Utility Relief Act could help with rising electric bills, even as BGE prepares for possible capacity stress and residents worry about environmental impacts and new generation plans. Public Health: Maryland and the DMV region issued measles alerts after a confirmed case involving a Maryland resident who traveled through Dulles and a DC clinic, urging people who visited listed exposure sites to watch for symptoms and call providers first. Food Safety: York County restaurant inspections flagged issues at several eateries, including temperature control problems and sanitation/date-marking lapses, while some locations passed. Healthcare Research & Funding: The University of Maryland School of Medicine increased its NIH research funding by 20.4% from 2024 to 2025, despite peer schools losing NIH support. Safety & Access to Care: FDA posted results from a May 28 inspection of Linde, Inc. in Baltimore, saying no corrective actions were required. Injury & Emergency Response: A fatal single-engine plane crash in Bowie killed three, and separate reports include a deadly e-bike crash near Dewey Beach involving a Maryland rider.

Chesapeake Bay Conservation: Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources is now accepting nominations for the Admiral of the Chesapeake Bay Award, a lifetime honor for people who’ve driven conservation and restoration work across the bay and its watershed. Nominations close Aug. 31, with the recipient(s) expected to be announced by year’s end. Public Health Research: A University of Maryland School of Medicine-led team reports early results from a first-in-human Lassa fever vaccine trial, describing clinically meaningful immune responses and a favorable safety profile—an important step for a disease that still has no vaccine. Healthcare Philanthropy: CalvertHealth Foundation announced “Soirée by the Bay,” a new Aug. 13 fundraiser in Chesapeake Beach supporting programs and services for Southern Maryland. Wildlife & Enforcement: Maryland Natural Resources Police released spring enforcement updates, including citations tied to illegal gillnetting for striped bass and other natural resource violations, plus search-and-rescue activity. Safety & Access: Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal e-bike crash in Rehoboth Beach that killed a 66-year-old woman from Potomac, Maryland.

Medicaid Work Rules: CMS has released final rules for Medicaid work requirements, spelling out what millions of enrollees must do to keep coverage starting Jan. 1, 2027—while states scramble to update systems and avoid coverage losses from paperwork hurdles. Measles in the Region: Health officials say a Maryland resident with measles traveled through Dulles and a DC urgent care, prompting exposure alerts across Maryland, DC, and Virginia as cases rise nationwide. Public Safety—Hanover Shooting: Anne Arundel County police are investigating a Saturday morning Hanover shooting that sent six people to hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Public Safety—Baltimore Hit-and-Run: Baltimore police report a 3-year-old died after a hit-and-run; a 14-year-old was arrested after the car was linked to a stolen vehicle report. Public Safety—Annapolis Crash: An Annapolis two-vehicle crash left one man dead and two others injured, with the cause under investigation. Local Health/Industry: Samsung Biologics plans to highlight its Rockville, Md. manufacturing expansion at BIO 2026 as it pursues new global partnerships.

Public Safety: Baltimore police say a 14-year-old was arrested after a hit-and-run in Mount Clare killed a 3-year-old girl; officers found the crash victim on West Pratt Street and later located the stolen vehicle. Violence Update: Anne Arundel County investigators are probing an early-morning shooting in Hanover that injured at least three people in an industrial area near BWI. Health Access & Costs: An Eldersburg woman is stuck in Panama after a stroke during an international trip; her family says bills have reached about $45,000 and is raising funds for treatment and return travel. Food Safety: Clover Hill Dairy expanded a listeria recall to include all cheese products after the outbreak linked to one death and multiple hospitalizations. Medicaid Spending Watch: New local data show sharp Medicaid billing shifts—Severn dental services jumped to $61,474 in 2024 (+153%) and Glen Burnie medicine services reached $13.3M (+0.4%). Caregiver Support: AARP and United Way expanded the 211 caregiver support program into Maryland and other states, adding more access for family caregivers. Sleep & Wellness: SLEEP 2026 wrapped in Baltimore, highlighting new research tying insomnia to cardiovascular risk and discussing treatment approaches.

Public Health Alert: The CDC says measles has spread to 41 jurisdictions, with 2,104 confirmed cases in 2026 and three deaths reported since the combined 2025–2026 outbreak began—an especially urgent reminder for Maryland families to check vaccination status. Hospital & Community Safety: Baltimore residents report a high-rise elevator outage after a fire flooded building systems at MonteVerde Apartments, forcing people to climb many flights—raising concerns for mobility and health access. Mental Health & Policy: A Maryland op-ed argues physician-assisted suicide is being framed as compassion while disproportionately affecting Black Marylanders and people with disabilities, setting up a likely 2027 legislative fight. Food Safety: Fry Pie Factory recalled pepperoni rolls sold across Ohio and parts of West Virginia due to undeclared milk allergen and improper refrigeration that could raise foodborne illness risk. Care Access & Coverage: New SLEEP 2026 findings suggest home sleep testing ordered for GLP-1 coverage is driving referrals, with many tests showing sleep apnea—highlighting how insurance rules can shape diagnosis pathways. EMS Coordination: Somerset County fire chiefs want county EMS staff allowed to assist on volunteer fire calls, citing staffing shortages and on-scene timing.

Firearm policy and public health: Maryland’s preliminary state data show firearm suicides overtook gun homicides in 2025, continuing a post–COVID shift where homicides fell but suicides rose again in 2024. Local conservation with health ties: Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced a conservation easement deal with Bon Secours to preserve 32 acres in Marriottsville, protecting forest habitat tied to long-term community wellbeing. Sleep and cardiovascular risk: New findings presented at SLEEP 2026 in Baltimore link sleep disturbance in women during the menopausal transition to lower health-related quality of life, and separate research reports excessive daytime sleepiness and trouble falling asleep may signal higher blood pressure risk. Water safety: Southern Maryland remains under drought watch as groundwater and stream flows stay low, with officials warning that recent rain hasn’t ended the multi-year deficit. Research funding in Maryland: Johns Hopkins and WVU launched a new joint research partnership with seed support to spur collaborations in health and science. Health equity policy: A Juneteenth-focused policy paper from the National Collaborative for Health Equity highlights progress and ongoing gaps in racial healing and health equity efforts.

Preakness Stakes Deal: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s administration says the state will exercise its right of first refusal to secure the Preakness Stakes intellectual property for $85M, matching Churchill Downs and aiming to lock in long-term control of the Triple Crown event. Mental Health & Courts: In the Brian Thompson UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case, Luigi Mangione’s lawyers withdrew plans to pursue a psychiatric defense based on “extreme emotional disturbance,” raising stakes as the case heads toward trial. Sleep Medicine Research (Baltimore): A Phase 3 REVITALYZ study presented in Baltimore is testing extended-release sodium oxybate as a once-nightly option for adults with idiopathic hypersomnia. Vision Care Access: The FDA approved ranibizumab-hkdz (Ranluspec) as an interchangeable biosimilar to Lucentis, with implications for retinal practices and intravitreal injection workflows. Kidney Health Awareness: The American Kidney Fund marked APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease awareness day and launched an APOL1 coalition to expand education and advocacy, especially for Black patients at higher risk. Local Health Policy: A Supreme Court ruling limits when plaintiffs can challenge state-court outcomes in federal court, affecting how medical-related disputes may proceed.

Sleep as Health Priority: At the 2026 SLEEP Annual Meeting in Baltimore, neurologist Beth Malow, MD, MS, was honored for pushing sleep health as a foundational clinical behavior tied to blood pressure, cardiovascular risk, and mental wellbeing. Food Safety: Maryland’s Clover Hill Dairy expanded its recall to include all Clover Hill Dairy brand cheese due to possible listeria contamination, warning of serious illness risk for young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems. Maternal Care Capacity: D.C.’s MedStar Washington Hospital Center plans to close its postpartum maternity ward beds next month, citing declining birth rates—raising concerns among postpartum nurses about reduced access. Local Health & Safety: Baltimore County police say a Pikesville officer critically injured in a recent shooting has been released from Shock Trauma and will transition to rehab. Community Health Access: A report highlights how people from West Virginia cross into Maryland for reproductive and gender-affirming care when local options are limited. Public Health & Wellness: A Montgomery County fifth grader was recognized for calling 911 during a school medical emergency, underscoring the role of calm, quick action in health outcomes.

Skilled Nursing Market: An 18-facility skilled nursing and long-term care portfolio in Maryland (about 2,500 licensed beds) has been sold, expanding an East Coast buyer’s Mid-Atlantic footprint. Public Health & Food Safety: Maryland expanded a warning to all Clover Hill cheese products after a listeria outbreak tied to a death, following earlier multi-state recall activity. Care Access & Costs: A new report highlights how insurers still may refuse coverage even when patients find treatments that work, underscoring ongoing barriers in Maryland’s health system. Sleep & Brain Health Research: Multiple sleep-focused studies and drug updates are in the mix, including findings linking hypotension to higher Alzheimer’s risk and new narcolepsy trial results presented at SLEEP 2026 in Baltimore. Community Health & Safety: Baltimore’s Ravens announced a $1 million investment to support gun-violence prevention programs, while Baltimore County Animal Services hit full capacity after taking in 40 animals in 24 hours. Policy Watch: Federal Labor Department action targets states over unemployment benefit fraud, pushing stronger identity checks before payments go out.

Medicaid Work Requirements: Final federal rules are out for Medicaid work requirements, spelling out what millions of enrollees must do to keep coverage—prompting states to scramble on IT and outreach to avoid losing people for paperwork hurdles. Public Health & Access: Chapters Health System is rolling out an “inclusive” pediatric hospice model, backed by a $150,000 grant, aimed at improving end-of-life care for intellectually and developmentally disabled children and their families. Sleep & Women’s Health: New SLEEP 2026 findings include positive Phase 2 results for narcolepsy drug alixorexton and objective sleep data for menopausal women from elinzanetant research—both pointing to more targeted treatment options. Local Policy Watch: Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly is preparing potential legal action over state-backed solar and battery storage projects on prime farmland, citing fire and environmental concerns. Food Safety: Maryland dairy Clover Hill Dairy issued a recall of all cheese products after a listeria outbreak sickened people and caused a death. Community Health: Baltimore youth nonprofit HeartSmiles founder Joni Holifield died at 47, after years of programming focused on leadership and opportunity for young people.

Baltimore Smoke Shop Crackdown: Mayor Brandon Scott signed a law banning new smoke shops within 750 feet of schools, parks, recreation centers, or other smoke shops, aiming to curb tobacco and vaping access for minors; existing shops get two years to close. Hospital Safety & Community Impact: A person was taken to the hospital after a pedestrian crash on I-695 at Cove Road in Dundalk, with the investigation ongoing. Workforce for Federal Care: Tryfacta won an NIH healthcare staffing contract for Bethesda, with services starting July 7, 2026. Sleep & Brain Health Research: New SLEEP 2026 findings in Baltimore highlight how sleep impairment may drive dementia risk, and separate studies report long-term benefits for idiopathic hypersomnia treatments. Food Safety: Maryland’s Clover Hill Dairy recalled cheese products after a Listeria investigation, with illness and death reported in the broader outbreak. Violence Prevention Funding: The Baltimore Ravens announced $1 million for six organizations tackling gun violence through intervention, outreach, and research.