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Adventist Health Care asks Prince George's delegation for $150 million toward new Fort Washington medical center
Summary
Adventist Health Care President Daffodil Baez told delegates the county has the fewest inpatient beds per 100,000 in Maryland and requested $150 million in state support (proposed as $35 million over four years) to build a 72‑bed medical center and outpatient campus.
Daffodil Baez, president of Adventist Health Care Fort Washington Medical Center, asked the Prince George's County House Delegation on Feb. 14 for state capital support to build a new hospital campus and outpatient facilities.
Baez said Prince George's County has the lowest number of inpatient beds per 100,000 in Maryland — about 69 beds per 100,000, she said — and outlined health consequences tied to limited local capacity, including higher incidence and complications from diabetes and lower birth weights linked to reduced prenatal access. She described physician capacity constraints driven by a lack of physical clinical space.
On costs, Baez said the fully priced medical‑center concept was estimated at a minimum of $250 million. Adventist has purchased land and budgeted at least $100 million internally; the health system is requesting $150 million in state support, with $35 million requested as an allotment over four years to help bridge the financing gap. She described a proposed campus that would include a 72‑bed hospital, an outpatient building and medical office space to attract physicians.
Delegates responded with support and requests for written data. Delegate Turner said the hospital is much needed in his district and asked for the dollar amount to be repeated; Baez restated the $250 million estimate, the internal $100 million budget and the $150 million state request broken into a $35 million four‑year allotment. Vice Chair and majority whip Whit Lewis said, as vice chair of the capital budget, he would “do all we can” to pursue funding but cautioned about the difficult budget year.
Baez said Adventist has already invested millions in the existing facility and has temporary structures from the COVID response that were not intended as permanent. She thanked delegates for prior support, including a $10 million commitment in 2024, and said the system will provide the data requested by delegates.
Next steps: delegates said they would continue discussions through the capital‑budget process in Annapolis and follow up with Adventist on the materials Baez offered to provide.
