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Proposal would create long‑term Commission on Reimagining Health Care to study systemic reform
Summary
Delegate Bonnie Cullison proposed HB 1367 to form a grant‑funded commission to develop long‑term, system‑level recommendations for Maryland health care, pointing to high state health spending, workforce shortages, and geographic disparities as reasons for an integrated review.
Delegate Bonnie Cullison (District 19) presented HB 1367 to establish the Commission on Reimagining Health Care in Maryland, a long‑term, grant‑funded body charged with developing evidence‑based options to integrate somatic and behavioral care, strengthen workforce capacity, and prioritize equity and sustainability.
Cullison framed the proposal as a systemic response to rising costs, workforce shortages and fragmented funding. She cited a set of figures during her remarks: total health care expenditures for Maryland were described as $69.5 billion in 2020 (about $11,482 per resident) and stated Maryland meets roughly 66% of its primary‑care needs, with projected primary‑care shortfalls and an aging physician workforce. She said the commission would be contingent on securing outside funding and would not proceed if grants are not in place by July 1, 2027: "If that funding isn't secured by July 1 of '27, then the commission is defunct," she said.
Supporters framed the commission as a deliberate process modeled on prior state commissions, intended to identify structural changes that could improve outcomes and affordability. Committee members asked about membership size and design; the sponsor said the draft panel would be sizable (about 23 members) and modeled after the Kirwan Commission’s membership balance but cautioned about member bloat.
Why it matters: the commission would create a forum to consider cross‑sector reforms at a time of fiscal and workforce pressure in Maryland’s health system; the sponsor argued incremental, short‑term fixes are insufficient for systemic problems.
Next steps: the sponsor asked for a favorable report and noted she would work on securing grant funding; the committee did not record a vote at the hearing.
