Statement of County Executive Baker: Governor Larry Hogan's Funding for County Hospital System

Press Release

For immediate release: 

February 5, 2015

 

For more information, contact:

Scott L. Peterson

Deputy Manager of Communications/Press Secretary

Cell: 240-619-9400

 

 

Statement of Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III:

Governor Larry Hogan's funding for the Prince George’s County hospital system

 

Upper Marlboro, MD –Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III released the following statement in response to Governor Hogan’s proposal for operational funding for the Dimensions Healthcare System.

 

“Today Governor Hogan announced his proposal for addressing the state’s portion of operational funding for Dimensions Healthcare System.  Although on the surface it may look like the Governor addressed our concerns, he once again used ‘smoke and mirrors’ to give the appearance that the issue has been resolved. 

 

After reviewing his proposal, the only thing he obligated the state to do is to include $15 million in the FY 2017 budget.  Everything else he indicated in the Governor’s press release does not obligate the state in any form or fashion going forward. He did not make a commitment to release the $15 million in operating funds he has been withholding since last year.  Both the money withheld from last year’s budget, and a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are critical components to ensure that the new hospital is approved by regulators and able to succeed once opened.  

 

True commitment to resolving this issue long-term would be for Governor Hogan to take one of two approaches.  He could support the current Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center Act of 2016 House and Senate bills, which would ensure state support for our hospital system until the new hospital is built.  His other option would be to enter into a new MOU between Prince George’s County, the State of Maryland, and the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), which is how the state committed to this effort five years ago.  To date, Governor Hogan has passed on both of these approaches, which calls into question whether he is really committed to fixing this problem for the long-term.  His action today may seem like a step forward, but from where I sit, we still have a considerable ways to go.

 

So I have a counter proposal for Governor Hogan.  Release the $15 million in operational funding for FY 2016 and support the House or Senate Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center Act.  If not, let’s sign and agree to a new MOU.  This approach will help the state to deliver much needed healthcare to the southern portion of Maryland and ultimately relieve the county and the state of subsidizing healthcare in Prince George’s County.” 

 

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