MARYLAND HEALTH PLANNING
AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

The Agency

William B. Landis, Executive Director
Frederick Nevins, Ph.D., Associate Director
Statewide Health Coordinating Council
Chairperson: Robert W. Gibson, M.D., 1980

Sanford M. Bienan, 1979; Peter J. Borchardt,
1979; Lester Buster, 1979; Wayne B. Hamilton,
1979; Harriet Hunter, 1979; Kennard W.
Merrey, 1979; Marvin Mones, M.D., 1979;
Idabelle Riblet, 1979; Mary Storm, 1979;
Charles G. Tildon, Jr., 1979; Larry Walsh,
1979; Pamela Brewington, 1980; Torrey C.
Brown, 1980; John M. Buchness, M.D., 1980;
Clarence Burns, 1980; Ellis Duke, 1980; Dr.
Robert W. Gibson, 1980; William G. Groben,
1980; Paul B. Meritt, 1980; Dr. Stephen K.
Padussis, 1980; Mary Sellers, 1980; Vernon
Wanty, 1980; Sharon Lee Camp, 1981; Patti J.
Dutcher, 1981; Charles F. Hurley, 1981; Ruth
Loevinger, 1981 ,\ Helen P. Marsellas, 1981; Al-
ice H. Murray, R.N., 1981; John Schaffer,
1981; Rev. Roy S. Turner, 1981; George D.
Webb II, 1981; Larry Young, 1981; Albert M.
Horton, Veterans Adminstration.

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2430

The Maryland Health Planning and Develop-
ment Agency, formerly the Comprehensive
Health Planning Agency, is designated under
Chapter 911, Acts of 1978, as the sole agency for
the administration and supervision of the State's
health planning functions. It is the State Health
Planning and Development Agency for the
purposes of the National Health Planning and
Resources Development Act of 1974 (P.L.
93-641), and it has been designated by HEW for
the same purposes. Under Chapter 911, the agen-
cy conducts the Certification of Need Program,
which includes determining whether proposed
new hospitals and related institutions are neces-
sary. A license to operate may not be issued to
any facility (or affected portion) for which a Cer-
tificate of Need has not been issued. The agency
is responsible for the implementation of the Ap-
propriateness Review Program mandated under
the Federal Act. By this Act, all Health Care
Services offered in existing institutions must be
reviewed at least once every five years to deter-
mine their approprialeness. Finally, Title XVI of

Public Law 93-641 replaced previous federal hos-
pital construction legislation (known as the Hill-
Burton Program) with a broader program to
modernize existing facilities and develop outpa-
tient facilities, rather than solely to construct
new hospitals. Responsibility for administering
this aspect of Title XVI is also a part of Mary-
land Health Planning and Development Agency's
program.

There are five regional Health Systems Agen-
cies—representing Western Maryland, Montgom-
ery County, Southern Maryland, Central
Maryland, and the Eastern Shore—that coordi-
nate their autonomous yet interdependent health
planning functions with the State agency. All
these Health Systems Agencies have full designa-
tion by HEW and are carrying out their responsi-
bilities under the Federal Act, including Appro-
priateness Review.

The Statewide Health Coordinating Council,
formerly the Advisory Council, is empowered
to approve the Annual State Health Plan and
the State Medical Facilities Plan required by
Public Law 93-641, as well as the budget of
the Health Systems Agencies. The Statewide
Health Coordinating Council also has approval
power over certain federal program grants un-
der the Public Health Service Act, the Com-
prehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Pre-
vention Treatment and Rehabilitation Act of
1970, and the Community Mental Centers Act,
and an advisory role in regulatory programs
and the operation of the agency generally. The
full Statewide Health Coordinating Council
meets six times per year, and in addition six
standing committees meet regularly to carry
out Statewide Health Coordinating Council re-
sponsibilities. The membership of the Statewide
Health Coordinating Council is composed of
health providers and consumers appointed by
the Governor.

All responsibility and functions served by and
through the actions of the Maryland Comprehen-
sive Health Planning Agency prior to May 29,
1978, are now responsibilities and functions of
the Maryland Health Planning and Development
Agency. The titular change of the Agency effec-
tive May 29, 1978, from the Comprehensive
Health Planning Agency to Maryland Health
Planning and Development Agency in no way
diminishes the Agency's principal responsibility
to develop the Health Plan of Maryland and to
facilitate and authorize the planned development
of health resources and services to the citizens of
Maryland (Code 1957, Art. 41, sees. 59C-59L;
Art. 43, <»x. 559a-l).