Mercy Health Services Supports New Program To Create 1,000 Jobs Statewide For Residents From High Poverty, Unemployment Areas

Mercy Medical Center is one of several Baltimore hospitals which has proposed a change to state regulations to create up to 1,000 new positions for statewide residents from ZIP codes facing poverty and high unemployment.

The proposal was presented at a meeting of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), a state regulatory body that sets prices for health care at Maryland hospitals. The HSCRC, Maryland law and federal agreements limit hospital revenue to a greater degree than in other states. The aggregate amount available for these awards is up to 0.25% of statewide revenue. The HSCRC will approve an amount any individual hospital may receive.

Conceived to help address the challenges facing Baltimore City, the proposed Health Employment Program would be available statewide in areas with chronically high poverty and unemployment if approved. The proposal to the HSCRC asks that the program start Jan. 1, 2016.

"Mercy is pleased to join with our hospital partners in support of this innovative jobs initiative," says Thomas R. Mullen, president and CEO of Mercy Medical Center. "This targeted investment will promote better community health while creating new jobs and career advancement opportunities for lower-wage workers in Maryland's most economically challenged communities."

Hospitals would not benefit financially from the proposed regulations. Changes to HSCRC regulations would lead to an approximate $2.50 rise per $1,000 of current hospital charges, generating as much as $40 million annually to support new entry-level positions and job training.

A decision from the HSCRC is expected at its next meeting in October 2015.