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Contact: Delegate Mary-Dulany James 410-841-3331

Delegate Mary-Dulany James named Legislator of the Year by the Health Facilities Association of Maryland

Annapolis, MD (September 23, 2008)  Delegate Mary-Dulany James has been selected as the 2008 Delegate Legislator of the Year by Health Facilities Association of Maryland (HFAM) to recognize her continued support of issues concerning the long-term health care industry in Maryland. This award will be presented on Thursday, September 25th at HFAM�s annual conference in Ocean City, MD.

Delegate James has served on the Appropriations Committee for 10 years and as Chair of the Health and Human Resources Sub-committee for the last 2 years.   In the last session Delegate James championed HB 809, a pay for performance bill that incentivizes long term care facilities to provide quality care, and holds facilities accountable for that care. Also last session, Delegate James sponsored HB 807, the Task Force to Study Financial Matters Relating to Long Term Care Facilities.  This bill has become a model for states to deal with government oversight of acquisitions of nursing home chains by financial institutions, by examining the impact such purchases have on the quality of care, and if the laws governing long term care should be amended.

In selecting Delegate James to receive the 2008 Delegate Legislator of the Year Award, HFAM made this statement:

�Her {Delegate James) ability to grasp the challenges of our industry has been important and critical in maintaining a stable funding system for long term care facilities in this state.  It is with great pride and honor that Health Facilities awards our �Legislator of the Year� award to Delegate Mary-Dulany James.�      

Recent past recipients of HFAM�s Delegate Legislator of the Year award includes House Speaker Mike Busch and Delegate Dr. Dan Morhaim.

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