Summary Report: Maryland Community Health Resources Commission Program Assessment

Abstract

The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) aims to expand access to health care for low-income Marylanders and underserved communities and increase the capacity of the state’s health care safety net infrastructure to deliver high-quality, affordable health care. The CHRC sponsors a grants program that has awarded 210 grants totaling $64.1 million since its inception. In spring 2016, the CHRC contracted with Hilltop to assess the programs of four selected 2016 grant recipients: Potomac Healthcare Foundation, Lower Shore Clinic, Garrett County Health Department, and Baltimore City Health Department. The objective of the assessments was to determine the extent to which the programs had an impact on health services utilization and costs for participating Medicaid beneficiaries. This summary report discusses Hilltop’s assessment methodology, limitations, and key findings.