Advocating for Quality & Accessible Medical Care in Maryland

MEDCHI, THE MARYLAND STATE MEDICAL SOCIETY
HOUSE OF DELEGATES

INTRODUCED BY: Montgomery County Medical Society

SUBJECT: Advocating for Quality & Accessible Medical Care in Maryland

REFERRED TO:

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  1. Whereas, the State of Maryland entered into a waiver in 1971 which was replaced by the Maryland
  2. All Payor Model in 2014; and then modified again in 2019 as the Total Cost of Care Model; and
  3.  
  4. Whereas, since 2019, many hospitals in Maryland have reduced services, OR time, and have not
  5. replaced existing equipment or acquired innovative equipment because of the global budget
  6. program; and
  7.  
  8. Whereas, the Total Cost of Care Model is causing declines in the quality and availability of inpatient
  9. medical care according to critical care physicians who rely on hospitals to provide care to their
  10. patients, and impacting outpatient care including ER wait times; and
  11.  
  12. Whereas, the current Total Cost of Care Model will be replaced in 2026 with the new AHEAD
  13. model; and
  14.  
  15. Whereas, the Health Services Cost Review Commission is charged with the financial administration
  16. of this model; however has limited authority to regulate or oversee the quality of care provided in
  17. inpatient or outpatient facilities; and
  18.  
  19. Whereas, MedChi has developed recommendations for inclusion in the AHEAD model and has met
  20. with the Secretary of Health to encourage consideration of these recommendations as the AHEAD
  21. model policies move forward; therefore, be it
  22.  
  23. RESOLVED, that MedChi, representing Maryland’s physicians, must be the outspoken advocate
  24. for quality, accessible inpatient and outpatient medical care for Marylanders; and be it further
  25.  
  26. RESOLVED, that MedChi should strive to be neutral as it relates to the current Total Cost of Care
  27. Model or the renegotiated AHEAD Model as its priority is advocating for quality, accessible
  28. inpatient and outpatient care.