MHA advances agenda for a healthier Maryland

By

Nicole Pasia

|

The Maryland General Assembly adjourned Sine Die on April 11, 2022. During the 90-day session, the legislature considered myriad Maryland Hospital Association (MHA) and hospital field priorities. Collectively with our members, MHA secured several wins, including measures to strengthen the hospital workforce and direct new funding to recruit and retain much-needed staff.

MHA secured $80 million for the Hospital Workforce Fund to support hospital staff recruitment and retention efforts. This is the largest direct investment to Maryland’s hospitals in over a decade.

MHA also locked in $7.4 million in loan repayment for physicians, physician assistants, and nurses—up from $400,000 in FY 2020.

“After more than two years on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals need relief and support, and Governor Hogan and the General Assembly delivered,” says Bob Atlas, President & CEO, Maryland Hospital Association. “As our hospitals rebuild, these measures will make a real impact. We are grateful for the legislature’s support of those who care for Marylanders every day.”

MHA and the hospital field also successfully advocated for legislation to help hospitals replenish and support staff and build a stronger pipeline of dedicated caregivers. Bills were passed to:

  • Establish a Commission to study the health care workforce crisis in Maryland
  • Require the Maryland Department of Health to lead a work group to create a public awareness campaign to prevent violence in health care settings
  • Continue ability to fast track licensing for physicians in states that participate in the multi-state compact

More MHA Successes for Advancing Health Care

  • Gained Medicaid reimbursement for community violence intervention services
  • Expanded Medicaid coverage for expectant Maryland mothers, regardless of citizenship status, and for their children up to the age of one year
  • Dedicated $1 million annually for the state patient safety center to support quality improvement initiatives
  • Established permanent program to provide HIV prophylaxis for survivors of sexual assault free of charge
  • Enhanced patients’ ability to establish advance directives in electronic health records

This press release was provided by the Maryland Hospital Association.