State Agencies

defining health problems, evaluating new and
existing Department programs, and developing
and applying knowledge of federal and other ex-
ternal trends so as to advise the Secretary on pro-
gram emphasis and Department direction. The
major organizational components of the Assistant
Secretariat for Health Regulation and Policy
Analysis are the Health Services Cost Review
Commission, the State Health Resources Plan-
ning Commission, and the Office of Regulatory
Services.

HEALTH SERVICES COST REVIEW
COMMISSION

Chairperson: David P. Scheffenacker, 1985

Carville M. Akehurst, 1983; Don S. Hiller, 1983;
Virginia Layfield, 1984; Dr. Carl J. Schramm,
1985; Roland Smoot, M.D., 1986; one vacancy.

Harold A. Cohen, Ph.D., Executive Director
John C. Keane, Deputy Director

201 W. Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-6804

The Health Services Cost Review Commission
was established by Chapter 627, Acts of 1971, to
monitor all matters, defined or implied, relating
to the fiscal affairs of Maryland's hospitals and
related institutions. Such monitoring consists of
the audit and review of data and analysis of ap-
propriate and valid relationships of both aggre-
gate and unit costs and revenues. This enables the
Commission to cause public disclosure of each
hospital's financial position, its verified total costs
incurred in rendering health services, and the lev-
el of reasonableness of its rates as determined by
the Commission's review and certification. It also
provides information to determine the adequacy
of each institution's financial resources to meet its
financial requirements. The Commission concerns
itself with solutions when these resources are in-
adequate (Code Health-General Article, Title 19,
Subtitle 2).

Beginning July 1, 1974, all purchasers of hospi-
tal health care services are assured that total
costs are reasonably related to the total services
offered by the hospital, that aggregate rates are
set in reasonable relationship to the hospital's ag-
gregate costs, and that rates are set equitably
among all purchasers of services without undue
discrimination. The Commission's authority to
approve rates for nursing homes and other related
institutions was removed in 1978.

Subject to the evaluation and reestablishment
provisions of the Regulatory Programs Evalua-

Health and Mental Hygiene/ 213

tion Act (Sunset Law) of 1978, authorization for
the Commission continues until July 1, 1989
(Chapter 626, Acts of 1982).

STATE HEALTH RESOURCES
PLANNING COMMISSION

Chairperson: Carville M. Akehurst, 1986

Vivian C. Bailey, 1984; Pamela Brewington, 1984;
Philip L. Jones, 1984; F. Perry Smith, Jr.,
1984; James T. Estes, M.D., 1985; Charlene
Connolly Quinn, 1985; Dominic B. Raino,
1985; Harvey R. Wertlieb, 1985; Spencer Fore-
man, M.D., 1986; Richard Hug, 1986; Nick
Rajacich, 1986; Otis Warren, Jr., 1986; John L.
Green, designee of the Secretary.

William B. Landis, Executive Director
Edward A. Pigo, Associate Director

201 West Preston Street
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 383-2430

The State Health Resources Planning Commis-
sion was established by Chapter 108, Acts of
1982, to promote the development of a health
care system that provides for all citizens financial
and geographic access to quality health care at a
reasonable cost. Such promotion consists of plan-
ning the development of quality health services
within each health service area to meet the cur-
rent and future health care needs of Maryland
citizens; identifying the resources essential to meet
defined needs; promoting through plans and poli-
cies appropriate use of the resources essential to
meet defined needs; advocating policies and sys-
tems to promote efficient delivery of and im-
proved access to services, including acute, long-
term, mental health, primary care, and community
alternatives; providing an opportunity for partici-
pation of State and local public agencies, private
organizations, and consumers and other members
of the public; enhancing the strengths of delivery
and regulatory systems and correcting their
weaknesses; assuring consistency with the policies
and priorities of State agencies and departments
in preparation of the State Health Plan; coordi-
nating with the programs and policies of the
Health Services Cost Review Commission; and
providing for assessment of the impact of plans
and projects on total health care costs to Mary-
land and to its citizens. Among major Commis-
sion programs are preparation of the State Health
Plan; conducting the Certificate of Need program
to assure that facilities meet standards of public
need before building or constructing new services;
and collecting and analyzing data necessary to
carry out its functions.