The federal government is giving Maryland the okay to try a new approach to hospital care. It’s going to change how often people are admitted to the hospital and how hospitals get paid. State officials say the new plan puts the emphasis on keeping people healthy. We hear from Health Secretary Joshua Sharfstein and Carmela Coyle of the Maryland Hospital Association.
Our series has focused on how the Affordable Care Act is changing health care in the state, and there are many questions about why Maryland’s health-insurance exchange website isn’t working better. But, today we’re focusing on another big development, one of the biggest changes in Maryland’s health system in four decades.
This change will give Maryland hospitals incentives to make sure patients don’t have to be re-admitted, and incentives to reduce the cost of care. Maryland will also keep its power to set rates for all hospital services, a unique authority for a state to have. To help get a better grasp on the changes, Sheilah Kast talks with Maryland’s Health Secretary, Dr. Joshua Sharfstein and Carmela Coyle, President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association.
Produced by Matt Purdy - [email protected]
Our series ‘The Checkup: How Health Care Is Changing in Maryland’ is made possible by grants from CareFirstBlueCrossBlueShield, the Baltimore Association of Health Underwriters, and HealthCare Access Maryland.