Md. Health Care Commission approves Prince George’s hospital plan
Vote of 11-0 clears Certificate of Need for $543M Regional Medical Center
Baltimore, MD (October 20, 2016) – The Maryland Health Care Commission voted 11-0, with one recusal, to approve the Certificate of Need application (CON) by Dimensions Health Corp. to relocate and to replace the Prince George’s Hospital Center and its Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital unit, creating the Prince George’s Regional Medical Center at a site in Largo.
When completed, PGRMC will have 205 acute-inpatient beds and will provide all of the services available at the current hospital, including the 15-bed special pediatric unit of Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. The replacement hospital will be owned and operated by the University of Maryland Medical System. Funding for the project comes from $127 million in new debt, $208 million from Prince George’s County; and $208 million from the State of Maryland.
“The state's approval of the medical center represents a significant step in strengthening the healthcare delivery model in Prince George's County,” said Health and Mental Hygiene Secretary Van T. Mitchell. “I have been working and looking forward to this day for more than 10 years.”
In presenting his Recommended Decision to the Commission, Commissioner Moffit emphasized the need for a robust ambulatory and primary care network in Prince George’s County as crucial components to the long-term financial success of the project and critical to improving the health of Prince George’s County residents. Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Dimensions and UMMS on August 30, 2016, UMMS will becomes the sole corporate owner of Dimensions.
As proposed in the revised project submitted to MHCC on August 31, 2016, Dimensions, under the ownership of UMMS, will develop the Prince George’s Regional Medical Center while continuing to partner with Prince George’s County on programs to revitalize the county’s health care delivery system.
“It is critical that the people of Prince George’s County have access to quality primary and ambulatory care, if we are to build a health care system that delivers high-quality, safe, satisfying, and efficient care to all residents of the County,” said Commissioner Moffit. “The project, as modified, will meet that objective and establish a first-rate financially sustainable Regional Medical Center in Largo.”
The Prince George’s Regional Medical Center is expected to open in 2020. The full text of the Recommended Decision can be found at https://goo.gl/OmCVcZ.
For additional information, contact Erin Dorrien – Chief, Government and Public Affairs, Maryland Health Care Commission – at 443-615-1338.
About the Maryland Health Care Commission
The Maryland Health Care Commission is a 15-member, independent regulatory agency whose mission is to plan for health system needs, promote informed decision-making, increase accountability, and improve access in a rapidly changing health care environment by providing timely and accurate information on availability, cost, and quality of services to policy makers, purchasers, providers and the public. The 15 Commissioners are appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Maryland Senate. The Commission's vision for Maryland is to ensure that informed consumers hold the health care system accountable and have access to affordable and appropriate health care services through programs that serve as models for the nation.
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