HEZ DESIGNEES
The five designated Zones exhibited measurable and documented economic disadvantages and poor health outcomes and proposed creative and sustainable plans for targeted investments in community health. These designations involve local coordinating organizations/coalitions led by three hospital systems and two local health departments, and will develop two rural, one urban, and two suburban HEZs.
Brief Overview of 5 Zones
Annapolis/Morris Blum (Suburban), Four Year Budget: $800,000. This Zone is utilizing HEZ funds to establish a new primary care health center based in the Morris Blum public housing building. The goals of this HEZ include a reduction in diabetes-related and smoking illnesses, obesity, and cardiovascular disease of the Morris Blum residents.
Caroline/Dorchester Counties (Rural), Four Year Budget: $2,936,000. The Zone targets primary care and behavioral health issues and is utilizing funds to support health care services teams that include peer recovery support specialists, community health outreach workers, mobile health care crisis teams, and school-based wellness programs. The goals of this HEZ include a reduction in behavioral health ED visits and hospitalization rates for hypertension, and obesity prevention.
Prince George’s County Health Department/Capitol Heights (Suburban), Four Year Budget: $4,400,000. This Zone focuses on Capitol Heights and is utilizing resources to expand primary care access and recruit providers to establish five patient-centered medical homes to serve a minimum of 10,000 residents. The goals of this HEZ are to reduce hospitalization rates for asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.
St. Mary’s County/Greater Lexington Park. (Rural), Four Year Budget: $3,000,000. The Zone is utilizing funds to expand access to primary and behavioral health services. The goals of this HEZ are to reduce emergency department and hospital admissions for behavioral health conditions and for key chronic conditions such as hypertension, asthma, pulmonary disease, heart failure, and diabetes.
West Baltimore Primary Care Collaborative (Urban), Four Year Budget: $4,200,000. This Zone targets reducing cardiovascular disease and utilizes HEZ resources to support recruitment of primary care providers, deploy community health workers, and increase access to community health resources such as gyms and healthy food retailers. The goals of this HEZ are to reduce hospitalization rates for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and hypertension.
HEZ INITIAL PROPOSALS
Below are the proposals received in November 2012 from each of the five Zones.
