By Authority:
Jay Stearman
Treasurer,
People for
Pendergrass

Press Room 

Keep up with Shane in the news:
(Links to press releases are in order from newest to oldest)

Delegate Pendergrass appointed Deputy Majority Leader (December 19, 2006)

Delegate Shane Pendergrass receives HIMSS Award (June 22, 2006)

Delegate Shane Pendergrass asked to represent Maryland at Health Information Technology Conference.  (February 9, 2006)   

Nighttime Pediatrics Announces plans to open a Howard County After-Hours Medical Facility (Jan 25, 2006)

Delegate Shane Pendergrass to serve on Small Group Market Health Insurance Task Force (July 11, 2005)

Delegate Shane Pendergrass to serve on Electronic Health Records Task Force
(June 27, 2005)

Delegate Shane Pendergrass named to Maryland’s Top 100 Women (March 16, 2005)

 

Speaker names Howard County lawmaker to key leadership post
(December 19, 2006)

Speaker Michael E. Busch announced today the appointment
of Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass (D - Howard) as Deputy Majority Leader.
Delegate Pendergrass succeeds Delegate Mary A. Conroy (D - Prince
George's) in this position.

"No one fights harder for her convictions than Shane Pendergrass," said
Speaker Busch. "She is tireless in her pursuit of what she believes
Maryland needs, and she will be an articulate and thoughtful voice for
the Democratic caucus in the House of Delegates."

As Deputy Majority Leader, Delegate Pendergrass will join Majority
Leader Kumar Barve as part of the Democratic Caucus' floor leadership
team. She will also formally join the House Democratic leadership team.

Pendergrass has served in the House of Delegates since January 11, 1995,
and represents parts of Howard County. She serves on the Health and
Government Operations Committee, where she chairs the insurance
subcommittee. She also serves on the Joint Committee on Administrative,
Executive and Legislative Review (AELR) and the House Facilities
Committee.

 

Clancy and Pendergrass Receive HIMSS 2006 Advocacy Award (June 22, 2006)
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is the healthcare industry's membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology (IT) and management systems for the betterment of human health. Founded in 1961 with offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., and other locations across the country, HIMSS represents more than 20,000 individual members and over 300 corporate members that collectively represent organizations employing millions of people. HIMSS frames and leads healthcare public policy and industry practices through its advocacy, educational and professional development initiatives designed to promote information and management systems’ contributions to ensuring quality patient care.

June Lowe, vice chair of HIMSS Board of Directors, presented the 2006 Advocacy Award to Dr. Carolyn Clancy, and Maryland Delegate Shane Pendergrass from District 13, during the Advocacy Day Networking Reception in the Rayburn House Office Building Foyer. 

“We are honored to present the 2006 Advocacy Award to both Dr. Clancy and Ms. Pendergrass who are visionary leaders in our field,” said Lowe. “They are stalwarts in government, in their professions, and in their communities. We appreciate their steadfast dedication in advancing our vision for a transformed healthcare system.”

Established in 2003, the HIMSS Advocacy Award recognizes a current or former federal or state legislative or executive branch leader (or their staff) who has made a significant contribution meriting national recognition to the healthcare information technology field.  Past award winners include the Honorable Tommy Thompson, Representatives Nancy Johnson and Patrick Kennedy, and the Honorable Newt Gingrich. 

 

 

 

 

 

Maryland Delegate Shane Pendergrass (2nd from Right) with
(L to R) Dan Blum, June Lowe and Dave Robert

 

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Delegate Shane Pendergrass asked to represent Maryland at Health Information Technology Conference (February 9, 2006)

DELEGATE SHANE PENDERGRASS ASKED TO REPRESENT MARYLAND AT HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

February 9, 2006 - Annapolis - House Speaker, Michael Busch has appointed Delegate Shane Pendergrass (District 13, Howard County) to a special project group formed by the National Council of State Legislators (NCSL) called HITCh, which stands for Health Information Technology Champions.  

According to Dr. Kala Ladenheim, NCSL Program Director for the Forum for State Health Policy Leadership, states that this small group of legislators from around the country has been formed to discuss policies "related to health information technology, electronic health records, and other issues around using electronic information technologies to enhance health care."  The HITCh group "will create venues for legislators to share their experiences and seek advice from one another about the role states can play, and facilitate exchanges among state policy makers and leaders in the industry.

"I am honored to have been selected to serve the citizens of Howard County and Maryland in this capacity," said Delegate Pendergrass. "It is a rewarding to have been recognized by Speaker Busch as a Maryland leader in the area of Heath Information Technology (HIT)."

Delegate Pendergrass sits on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and is Chairman of the Health Insurance Subcommittee and of the Howard County Delegation. She has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 1995; prior to that she was a member of the Howard County Council from 1986 until 1994. Delegate Pendergrass serves as a member of the Reforming States Group (RSG) which is sponsored by the Milbank Memorial Fund which is a health care issues and policy think tank, and is the representative from the House of Delegates on the Maryland Task Force to Study Electronic Health Records.

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Nighttime Pediatrics Announces plans to open a Howard County After-Hours Medical Facility (Jan 25, 2006)

Annapolis, Maryland – Delegate Shane Pendergrass, representing District 13, Howard County is announcing that Nighttime Pediatrics, Inc. will open its fifth after-hours Nighttime Pediatrics and Adult Care Too Care Center™ in Howard County on the campus of Lorien Columbia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center at 6334 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044-3818. Nighttime Pediatrics and Adult Care Too™ serves children and adults when physicians offices are closed, and is open 365 days a year. The Care Center will offer x-ray, laboratory and prescription services.

“This Care Center will round out the continuum of medical services available for Howard Countians by enabling them to have access to medical care during evenings and on weekends for non-emergent illness and minor trauma, and will complement the fine medical services already available in Howard County through the local hospital and private physicians” stated Dr. Graw.  “Delegate Pendergrass has worked with us for several years to bring after-hours care into the county to serve the needs of her constituents and the citizens of the county at large.” Mr. Louis Grimmel, CEO of Lorien Health Systems, is pleased to have Nighttime Pediatrics and Adult Care Too on the Lorien campus, stating that “Nighttime Pediatrics’ emphasis on quality medical care and customer service, and its commitment to the communities it serves, make it a natural fit for Lorien.”

In 1989, Nighttime Pediatrics™ opened its first facility to take care of infants and children.  Ten years later it added services for adults and seniors in need of after-hours care, and is now known as Nighttime Pediatrics and Adult Care Too™.  This new Care Center in Columbia is scheduled to open in early April and will offer after-hours medical services to the community from 5 PM to 12 midnight Monday through Friday, 12 noon to 12 midnight on Saturday, 11 AM to 12 midnight on Sunday and holidays.  Telephones are answered for same-day appointments beginning at 3:30 PM on weekdays, 11 AM on Saturdays, and 9:30 AM on Sundays.  Nighttime Pediatrics and Adult Care Too™ accepts all patients and participates with all insurances.   

The Columbia facility is a joint project of Nighttime Pediatrics, Inc. and Mangione Family Enterprises, and merges their mutual interests in delivering personalized healthcare services to people of all ages.  “I am delighted that Nighttime Pediatrics was able to partner with Mangione Family Enterprises to open this much needed after-hours Care Center in Howard County,” explained Delegate Pendergrass. “Dr. Graw, Louis Grimmel and the Mangiones should be proud of their achievement.”

For more information, contact any of the people above or visit Nighttime Pediatrics at www.nighttime.com.

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Delegate Shane Pendergrass to serve on Small Group Market Health Insurance Task Force (July 11, 2005)

DELEGATE SHANE PENDERGRASS TO SERVE ON
SMALL GROUP MARKET HEALTH INSURANCE TASK FORCE
July 11, 2005 - ANNAPOLIS - Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass (District 13, Howard County) has been appointed as one of three Delegates on the newly-formed Joint Legislative Task Force on Small Group Market Health Insurance. Pendergrass will represent the House of Delegates with two colleagues from the Health and Government Operations Committee, Vice Chairman Peter A. Hammen and Delegate Wade Kach. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations regarding small group market health insurance, including issues related to rates and rate adjustments, medical loss ratios, availability of association health plans, and the number of employers offering the Limited Benefit Plan.

" I am honored to have been selected to serve in this capacity and in such good company," said Delegate Pendergrass. "I look forward to the opportunity to put my familiarity with these complex issues to good use on the Task Force. While our term is brief, I am optimistic that we will generate much thoughtful and productive discussion." The Task Force must report its findings in under six months.
House Speaker Michael Busch appointed Pendergrass and her colleagues in a letter to Karl S. Aro, Executive Director of Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services. "I am pleased to appoint [them]," wrote Busch. "I am confident that their leadership and contributions will benefit the Maryland House of Delegates and the citizens of our State."

Delegate Pendergrass sits on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and is Chairman of the Health Occupations Subcommittee and of the Howard County Delegation. She has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 1995; prior to that, she was a member of the Howard County Council from 1986 until 1994. She was also recently appointed as the sole Delegate on the Task Force to Study Electronic Health Records, another new Task Force.

The Joint Legislative Task Force on Small Group Market Health Insurance was created after a bill proposed by Delegate Kach passed unanimously during the 2005 Legislative Session. The Task Force consists of 6 members, three Delegates and three Senators. On or before January 1, 2006, the Task Force recommendations will be presented to the House Speaker and Senate President, as well as the House Health and Government Operations Committee and the Senate Finance Committee.

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Delegate Shane Pendergrass to serve on Electronic Health Records Task Force (June 27, 2005)

DELEGATE SHANE PENDERGRASS TO SERVE ON
ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS TASK FORCE
June 27, 2005 - ANNAPOLIS - Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass (District 13, Howard County) was selected to represent the Maryland House of Delegates on the newly-formed Task Force to Study Electronic Health Records. The Task Force’s mandated mission is to study the current and potential uses of electronic medical records, including electronic transfer and prescriptions, as well as their possible effects on patient safety, school health records, and state expenditures.

"This appointment is an honor and a privilege," said Delegate Pendergrass. "It is an excellent opportunity to improve patient care while safeguarding the sensitive information contained in medical records."

House Speaker Michael Busch appointed Pendergrass in a letter to Maryland Secretary of Health S. Anthony McCann. "I am confident that her leadership and contributions will benefit the Maryland House of Delegates and the citizens of our State," stated Busch. "I am pleased to appoint [her]."

Delegate Pendergrass sits on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and is Chairman of the Health Occupations Subcommittee and of the Howard County Delegation. She has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 1995; prior to that, she was a member of the Howard County Council from 1986 until 1994.

The Task Force to Study Electronic Health Records was created following the unanimous passage of a bill introduced by Senator Paula Hollinger during the 2005 Legislative Session. The Task Force is composed of 26 members, including one Delegate and one Senator. Each member will serve a term of two years and six months, after which time the Task Force will dissolve. Their study will culminate in a report to the Governor and the General Assembly on or before December 31, 2007.

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Delegate Shane Pendergrass named to Maryland’s Top 100 Women (March 16, 2005)

DELEGATE SHANE PENDERGRASS NAMED TO MARYLAND’S TOP 100 WOMEN
March 16, 2005 - ANNAPOLIS - Delegate Shane E. Pendergrass (District 13, Howard County) was named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record. The newspaper’s annual awards acknowledge professional women who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and community service.

"It is a great honor to be named as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women," Delegate Pendergrass stated. "I am proud to share this recognition with such distinguished company."

In a letter of support for the nomination, House Speaker Michael E. Busch calls Delegate Pendergrass, "an outstanding advocate for issues affecting Maryland’s women and families" and "a forceful advocate for [health care] reform." He further notes, "Pendergrass always takes her commitments seriously and follows through on her promises."

Delegate Pendergrass sits on the House Health and Government Operations Committee and is the Chairman of the Health Occupations Subcommittee. She has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 1995; prior to that, she was a member of the Howard County Council from 1986 until 1994.

The tenth annual Maryland’s Top 100 Women awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 18th at 6:30 pm at the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. A magazine featuring profiles of all award recipients will be inserted in the May 20th edition of The Daily Record.

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Delegate Shane Pendergrass, District 13
Maryland House of Delegates
6 Bladen Street, Room 241
Annapolis, MD 21401
(301) 858-3139, (410) 841-3139
Toll Free: 1-800-492-7122, ext. 3139
FAX: (410) 841-3409  -  (301) 858-3409
e-mail: shane.pendergrass@house.state.md.us