Creation of the Community Health Resources Commission

The Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) was created by the Maryland General Assembly to expand access to health care for low-income Marylanders and underserved communities in the state and bolster Maryland’s health care safety net infrastructure. The General Assembly, in passing the Community Health Care Access and Safety Net Act of 2005 (HB 627/SB 775), envisioned that the CHRC would perform a unique role in terms of developing a statewide, comprehensive policy to strengthen Maryland’s network of safety net providers.

The CHRC is a quasi- independent commission within the Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene (DHMH), and its Commissioners are appointed by the Governor. The CHRC has developed specific policy expertise with Maryland’s community health centers and other safety net providers and is positioned to assist these providers as the state implements health reform. In addition, the Commission has forged interdisciplinary, inter-agency relationships with DHMH, Maryland Health Care Commission, Health Services Cost Review Commission, local health departments, detention centers, and the judicial community, to develop and fund innovative projects that expand access to health care, reduce runaway health care costs, and improve the quality of care for vulnerable populations.

The following goals of the Commission are articulated in its authorizing legislation:

(1) Expand access to health care for low-income individuals and special populations;

(2) Create interconnected, comprehensive systems of care in the community;

(3) Develop partnerships among hospitals, local health departments, community health centers, and other safety net providers;

(4) Create access to specialty care for safety net providers;

(5) Reduce non-emergent and preventable visits to hospital Emergency Departments; and

(6) Promote a common, HIT platform for safety net providers.