House hearing spotlights bid to make state operating grant to University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center permanent

Delegate Andrea Fletcher Harrison urged the Appropriations Committee to give HB 15-40 a favorable report, saying the bill would repeal a termination date on an annual state operating grant that helps support operations at the University of Maryland Capital Region Medical Center. "I respectfully request a favorable report on HB 15-40 so that we can safeguard the state's investment," Harrison said.

Kristen Jones Bryce, chief external affairs officer for the University of Maryland Medical System, told the committee the county’s health system required a long public–private effort to stabilize and that the hospital’s turnaround included addressing a historical structural deficit of more than $50 million. "State and county leaders very intentionally chose UMS, an academic medical partner, capable of growing high-quality clinical programs," she said, and emphasized the economic and clinical improvements tracked since the partnership began.

Jamie Brown, a cardiac surgeon who said he has worked at the University of Maryland for 25 years, described rebuilding the cardiac surgery program and said the region could support substantially more operations than current volumes. "Based on utilization rates ... we probably could do 1,500 heart operations a year," Brown said, arguing continued operating support is important to retain staff and provide lifesaving care.

Melissa Weithaus, medical director of radiation oncology at the Capital Region Medical Center, said consolidating cancer services locally reduces delays in treatment and increases access to clinical trials. "In the past year, we've opened, I believe, 10 or 15 cancer-related clinical trials at Capital Region," she said, adding that bringing trials into the community prevents patients from traveling to Baltimore or Washington for care.

Dr. Donna Neal, a maternal–fetal medicine specialist, described maternity-care shortages in Prince George's County and outlined programs developed at the medical center — including diabetes-in-pregnancy care, fetal echocardiography and a postpartum hypertension program — that she said have reduced readmissions and improved care. She cited national disparities in maternal outcomes, saying Black women in the county face higher risks of adverse outcomes.

Delegate Harrison reminded the committee that the "underlying statute" continues to require Prince George's County to provide a $208,000,000 capital commitment for the facility, a condition she said HB 15-40 respects. Committee members asked about clinical-trial partnerships and local economic impacts; Weithaus said the hospital is already accruing patients to broader University of Maryland research networks. The committee concluded the bill hearing with no recorded vote.