MHA History

The Coffee Klatch Gang

The “Coffee Klatch Gang” meets occasionally at The Johns Hopkins Club to discuss problems and other matters of mutual interest, particularly those affecting Baltimore area hospitals. The group is composed of chief executive officers—Dr. Edwin Crosby, of The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Harvey Weiss, of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore; P.J. MacMillen, of Baltimore City Hospitals; Dr. Merrill Stout, of Women’s Hospital; Bob Hoyt, of West Baltimore General Hospital; Doug Coleman, of Blue Cross, who was succeeded by Reg Dabney; and other administrators. The group informally represented hospitals’ best interests, particularly before the state legislature and other government agencies.

The Hospital Council

Established with Ralph B. Murphy as full-time executive and Margaret Jones as secretary, one of the council’s aims is to deal effectively with Blue Cross on behalf of its member hospitals. At the time, Blue Cross provided office space for the group and a substantial portion of its budget. Despite this precarious relationship, the council whittles away at the financial problems of hospitals posed by both Blue Cross and state government programs.

Group Purchasing Program

The program is established to offer group purchasing for hospitals throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Blue Ribbon Task Force

Reacting to the likelihood of future chaos in the state as a consequence of internal deficient planning, leadership and action, the Hospital Council of Maryland appoints a blue ribbon task force. The group studies the existing association organization and recommends changes to assist members collectively. The mission: To assure all Maryland hospitals provide for all people the highest quality health services in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

First CEO, Dick Davidson

The Maryland Hospital Association welcomes first Chief Executive Officer, Richard “Dick” Davidson.

First Board Chair, Sherburne Walker

MHA appoints first Board Chair: Sherburne B. Walker, of Anne Arundel Medical Center.

Maryland Hospital Association Is Incorporated

Uniform Set of Cost Centers

State Uniform Accounting and Reporting System implemented, requiring that direct costs, revenue and prescribed output measures be submitted according to a uniform set of cost centers. The combination of financial and case-mix data collected according to audit standards, resulted in one of the most complete and accurate hospital databases in the country. The databases are updated continuously and serve as the foundation of the state’s rate-setting decisions.

Maryland Obtains Its First Waiver

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires hospitals to be paid the same rates as approved by the commission. Uniform rates set by the commission require that all payers be charged the same price for the same service at the same site. Previously, Medicare and Medicaid continued to pay individual hospitals under their own rules.

Standardized Discharge Abstract

Uniform Financial Accounting and Reporting System expands to include a standardized discharge abstract for each patient, termed “case-mix” data. The combination of financial and case-mix data results in one of the most complete and accurate hospital databases in the country.

Federal Inflation Adjustment System

The System gives hospitals an ongoing incentive to control costs in a more predictable and timely manner.

Board Chair, Eugene Feinblatt

Eugene M. Feinblatt, Esq., Board Chair of Sinai Hospital of Baltimore and Union Memorial Hospital, is named MHA Board Chair.

Maryland Health Planning Legislation Bill Signed into Law

Prohibits Physician Clinical Services

Legislation enacted prohibiting physician clinical services from being included in hospital rates.

Maryland Gov. William Donald Schaefer Attends MHA Annual Membership Meeting

MHA PAC

Hospitals form MHA Political Action Committee (PAC) to enhance advocacy efforts.

Dick Davidson Becomes President of AHA

MHA CEO Dick Davidson steps down to serve as president of American Hospital Association.

Maryland’s Cost Per Admission

Evidence shows the regulatory process is achieving significant success in managing costs. Maryland’s cost per admission is 14% below the national average.

25th Anniversary of MHA

Dick Davidson, former MHA CEO and AHA president, delivers first Davidson Lecture at the celebration.

MHA Headquarters in Elkridge

MHA moves its offices from Heaver Plaza in Lutherville-Timonium to its current location at 6820 Deerpath Road in Elkridge.

September 11 Attacks (9/11)

Maryland hospitals treat victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

State Legislation Establishes the Maryland Patient Safety Center

Chesapeake Registry Program

The program (“Registry”) is established by Prime and MHA to assist health care facilities with supplemental staffing needs. Registry contracts with selected nursing and allied health agencies to provide quality-oriented supplemental staff for per diem assignments and contract assignments.

MPSC Becomes an Incorporated, Nonprofit Organization

Cal Pierson Steps Down as MHA CEO

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

President Barack Obama signs the ACA, requiring all people have health insurance beginning in 2014.

Medicaid Expansion

Governor Martin O’Malley authorizes Medicaid expansion under the terms of the Affordable Care Act. Expansion results in hundreds of thousands of new Medicaid enrollees.

All-Payer Model

Maryland’s “waiver” from Medicare rules is phased out in favor of the All-Payer Model, a five-year demonstration under CMS’ Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). The new model incentivizes proactive care and efforts to move from volume-to-value.

Board Chair, Mary Pat Seurkamp

Mary Pat Seurkamp, Ph.D., president emeritus of Notre Dame of Maryland University and a trustee at Greater Baltimore Medical Center, is named MHA Board Chair.

Maryland Senator Thomas “Mac” Middleton Receives MHA’s First Outstanding Legislator Award

Total Cost of Care

Recognizing the cost savings and quality improvements Maryland’s hospitals have made under the All-Payer Model, CMS agrees to a new demonstration for the next five to 10 years. The Total Cost of Care Model begins in January 2019 and aims to build on the success of the All-Payer Model by extending cost savings targets to non-hospital health care providers and expand the range of population health improvement goals.

Bob Atlas Begins Tenure as Fourth President & CEO of MHA

Total Cost of Care Bill Signing by Gov. Larry Hogan in Annapolis

New Model Contract

Maryland hospitals operate under a new, Total Cost of Care Model contract with the federal government designed to test whether the improvements hospitals made under the All-Payer Model can be expanded to all health care providers.

Discharge Delays for Behavioral Health Patients

MHA’s Behavioral Health Task Force launches study of factors contributing to discharge delays for behavioral health patients in emergency departments.

Medicaid System of Care Task Force

The task force is formed to develop hospital field positions on Medicaid policy issues.

Reduce Costs

Maryland hospitals reduce costs since 2014 without shifting costs to other parts of the health care system, according to an evaluation from CMS and its CMMI.

First Cases of COVID-19 Patients in Maryland Hospitals

MHA Executive Committee of the Board Unanimously Adopts MHA’s Commitment to Racial Equity

Maryland hospitals successfully treated and released more than 14,600 COVID-19 patients.

Health Care Workforce

MHA releases 2022 State of Maryland’s Health Care Workforce Report.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore attends MHA Annual Membership Meeting

Thomas Kleinhanzl becomes MHA’s first Board of Trustees Chair and also the first hospital president/CEO to lead the organization

New President & CEO Announced

Sen. Melony G. Griffith is named President & CEO of MHA and will assume the role Dec. 18. She is the first Black woman to hold the position.