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Maryland

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Maryland covers 9,774 square miles, with a 2012 estimated population of 5,884,563 people – with 313,977 people living in rural Maryland (USDA-ERS). Annapolis is the state capital. The state’s largest cities are Baltimore, Gaithersburg and Frederick. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 61.1% of the state’s population is white, 30.0% is Black/African-American, and 8.4% is of Hispanic/Latino origin (2011).

There are 47 hospitals in Maryland (Kaiser, 2010). The state has zero hospitals identified by the Flex Monitoring Team as Critical Access Hospitals. There are zero Rural Health Clinics in Maryland, and 16 Federally Qualified Health Centers provide services at 111 sites in the state (Kaiser, 2012). 13.0% of Maryland residents lack health insurance (Kaiser, 2011).

According to the Economic Research Service, the average per-capita income for Maryland residents in 2011 was $50,655, although rural per-capita income lagged at $43,072. Estimates from 2011 indicate a poverty rate of 11.7% exists in rural Maryland, compared to 10.1% in urban areas of the state. 2011 ACS data reports that 12.9% of the rural population has not completed high school, compared to 11.8% of urban populations. The unemployment rate in rural Maryland is 8.3%, and in urban Maryland, it is 7.0% (USDA-ERS, 2011).

For a national comparison, please see an overview of the United States.


Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau: State & County QuickFacts; USDA Economic Research Service: State Fact Sheets ; Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts; Flex Monitoring Team: Critical Access Hospital List

State Contacts

Directory of Rural Health Contacts: Maryland
Contact information for people and organizations in Maryland with an interest in rural health.

Organizations

Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)
Federal government
Supports economic and social development in all of West Virginia and parts of twelve other states: Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

Chesapeake Regional Information System for Our Patients: Maryland (CRISP)
State/regional organization
Maryland State Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (REC) that helps health care providers become meaningful users of electronic health records by providing information and technical assistance.

HUD Community Development Block Grants: Maryland
Federal government
Contact information for the State CDBG program. Provides funding for community development projects.

Maryland Area Health Education Center (AHEC)
State/regional organization
Improves the health status of Marylanders through community educational partnerships that foster a commitment to enhancing healthcare access in the rural and urban underserved areas of the state.

Maryland Child Support Enforcement Program
State government
Enables, encourages, and enforces parental responsibility through innovative programs, partnerships, and technology, thereby contributing to child and family well-being.

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
State government
Works to improve the health of all Maryland residents.

Maryland Department of Human Resources
State government
We will aggressively pursue opportunities to assist people in economic need, provide prevention services, and protect vulnerable children and adults.

Maryland Family Policy Impact Seminar
State/regional organization
Supports decision making of state policy makers. Part of the University of Maryland Family Studies Department.

Maryland Hospital Association (MHA)
State/regional organization
Created in 1970 as a forum for cooperation and communication among the state's major providers of health care.

Maryland Office of Rural Health
State/regional organization
Collects and disseminates information within the state, coordinates rural health interests and activities across the state, and provides technical assistance to attract more federal, state, and foundation funding for rural communities.

Maryland Rural Development Corporation
State/regional organization
The Maryland Rural Development Corporation, Inc., is a private, non-profit corporation that has been serving the rural communities of Maryland for 20 years.

Maryland Rural Health Association (MRHA)
State/regional organization
Focuses on developing a broad-based grassroots advocacy effort on rural health issues.

Mid-Atlantic Association of Community Health Centers (MACHC)
State/regional organization
Works to provide health care services to the medically underserved and uninsured in Maryland and Delaware. MACHC is built on delivering accessible, affordable, cost effective and quality primary health care to those in need in rural and urban communities.

Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
State/regional organization
One of the telehealth resource centers funded by the federal Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. Assists health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Includes Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region (NN/LM SE/A)
State/regional organization
Works to improve access to health information for health care providers, librarians, and the public in Alabama, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development (NERCRD)
State/regional organization
One of four regional rural development centers in the nation. Focuses on rural issues including community and economic development, food systems, natural resources, and entrepreneurship. Serves a 12 state area in the Northeast region which includes CT, DE, MA, NJ, NY, RI, PA, WV, NH, ME, MD, VT.

Rural Maryland Council (RMC)
State/regional organization
The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) brings together citizens, community-based organizations, federal, state, county and municipal government officials as well as representatives of the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to collectively address the needs of Rural Maryland communities.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP)
State/regional organization
Helps rural communities in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida to improve community infrastructure, including water and wastewater treatment.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Maryland
Federal government
Works to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing. The HUD state office provides information about HUD housing programs and local contacts for the state.

USDA Rural Development Maryland State Office
Federal government
Committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in all of rural America. The Rural Development State Office provides information about Rural Development programs and applications for financial assistance.

Tools

ERS State Fact Sheet: Maryland
Website
Lists statistics on population, educational attainment, employment, income, farm characteristics, and farm financial indicators for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service

Maryland Health Centers Data
Website
Provides access to information on Federally Qualified Health Centers for the state. Includes a map of FQHC locations, as well as information on the populations served by health centers, services provided, staff, patient visits, costs of care, and use of electronic health information.

Maryland KIDS COUNT Data Center (KCDC)
Website
Provides data on child well-being for the state.
Sponsoring organization: Annie E. Casey Foundation

Maryland QuickFacts
Website
Basic demographic and economic statistics for the state, with links to county-level data.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau

Maryland State Health Facts
Database
The latest state-level data on demographics, health, and health policy, including health coverage, access, financing, and state legislation. Individual state profiles and 50-state comparisons.
Sponsoring organization: Kaiser Family Foundation

National Healthcare Quality Report State Snapshot: Maryland
Website
Health care quality report for the state, based on the National Healthcare Quality Report.
Sponsoring organization: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

NN/LM Southeastern Atlantic Region: Maryland Resources
Website
Overview of the state, with links to state agencies, health associations, and other resources for Maryland.
Sponsoring organization: National Network of Libraries of Medicine, Southeastern/Atlantic Region

Preparedness and Emergency Response Learning Centers (PERLC)
Website
Comprised of 14 accredited schools of public health that serve in a national capacity to meet preparedness and response training and education needs of the U. S. public health workforce. Funded schools are located in AL, AZ, FL, IA, IL, MA, MD, MN, NY, OK, NC, TX, and WA.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

See also: State-by-State Resources: Tools

Maps & Map Collections

Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designation for Mental Health as of 8/2/2012
Geographic coverage: Maryland
Shows Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designation for mental health.
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Office of Rural Health
Date: 2012

Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designations for Dental Care as of 4/25/2012
Geographic coverage: Maryland
Shows Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designations for dental care.
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Office of Rural Health
Date: 2012

Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Designations for Primary Care as of 4/25/2012
Geographic coverage: Maryland
Shows Maryland Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designations for primary care.
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Office of Rural Health
Date: 2012

Maryland Medically Underserved Area/Population Designations, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alike Sites as of 7/5/2012
Geographic coverage: Maryland
Shows Maryland Medically Underserved Area/Population Designations and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Office of Rural Health
Date: 2012

Maryland Rural Definition Maps
Geographic coverage: Maryland
Set of maps showing the geographic coverage provided by 9 different rural definitions for the state.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
Date: 2000

See also: State-by-State Resources: Maps

Funding

BJ’s Charitable Foundation
Funding for hunger prevention, self-sufficiency, healthcare, and education to those who are underserved.

Claneil Foundation Special Project Fund
Provides seed funding to emerging nonprofits, or to new projects of established organizations in the areas of education; environment; health and human services; and hunger and nutrition.

Gannett Foundation Community Action Grants
Supports local organizations with funding priority given to programs that focus on education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation, and cultural enrichment.

Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development Assistance Fund
Provides grants to rural-serving nonprofit organizations that undertake statewide and regional planning; economic and community development; and agricultural and forestry education projects.

Mission and Ministry Fund Planning and Project Grants
Grants to build community capacity and work in collaboration with others to implement action plans that address specific, documented community needs.

Mission and Ministry Fund Violence Prevention Grant
Funds may be requested to cover the costs of community-based planning, conducting community meetings, assessing community violence-related assets and needs, continuing specific community-based violence prevention efforts and related activities.

National Network of Libraries of Medicine Southeaster/Atlantic Region Funding
Provides funding for National Network of Libraries members located in the Southeaster/Atlantic region to assist them in conducting outreach and technology projects.

Nonprofit Training Resource Fund
Grants to organizations for employees to attend approved classes and courses that will enhance their job performance.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Loan Fund Program
Provides low-interest loans to low-income rural communities for predevelopment costs, system upgrades and new construction of water and wastewater services and facilities.

Wells Fargo Corporate Giving Programs
Funding for nonprofit organizations in the areas of community development, education, human services, arts and culture, civic responsibility, and environmental consciousness.

Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund
Awards grants in various rural and urban areas where Weyerhaeuser does business. Funds programs that work in the areas of affordable housing and shelter; education and youth development; environmental stewardship; and human services.

Inactive Funding

Inactive Funding Opportunities - Lists additional funding programs for this state that are not currently accepting applications. Programs that are inactive may be offered again in the future.

Documents, Reports and Other Publications

Are State Medicaid Managed Care Programs Ready for 2014?: A Review of Eight States
Author(s): Teresa A. Coughlin, Brigette Courtot, Rebecca Peters
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Examines eight states and how they are altering their Medicaid managed care programs to comply with the Affordable Care Act expansion in 2014. Discusses rural throughout. Includes Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Date: 05 / 2013

Building Medical Homes: Lessons from Eight States with Emerging Programs
Author(s): Neva Kaye, Jason Buxbaum, Mary Takach
Sponsoring organization: Commonwealth Fund
Profiles eight states that are at different stages in the development and implementation of a medical home program. Includes Alabama, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Texas, and Virginia.
Date: 12 / 2011

Demographic and Economic Profile: Maryland
Author(s): Kathleen K. Miller
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute
Discusses demographic and economic data including population, race, education, age, poverty, income, and more. Includes maps and graphics.
Date: 02 / 2009

Maryland Rural Health Plan
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Describes Maryland's rural health plan to improve rural health including health priority areas and recommendations for the future.
Date: 06 / 2007

Maryland: 2010 Primary Care Needs Assessment
Sponsoring organization: Maine Primary Care Association
Describes primary care needs in Maryland and places in the state that will receive priority attention to promote access to care in medically underserved areas.
Date: 10 / 2011

Recruiting Local People to Fill Health Care Needs
Author(s): Candi Helseth
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center
Discusses how frontier and rural health care providers looking for innovative ways to solve increasing workforce shortages, are recruiting and training local people to be health care professionals in their communities. Highlights programs in Nevada, Maryland, and Alaska.
Journal citation: Rural Monitor Volume 2007 Issue Summer
Date: 08 / 2007

Small Business Profile: Maryland
Sponsoring organization: Small Business Administration
Profile of the state's economy, covering the number of firms, industry composition, small business income, banking, women and minority business ownership, and employment.
Date: 2 / 2013

See also: State-by-State Resources: Documents

Journals

Maryland - Primary Care and Rural Health Newsletter
Contains articles, events, news, and more.
Sponsoring organization: Maryland Office of Rural Health

Success Stories

Children's Regional Oral Health Consortium
The primary goal of the Consortium is to address disparities in access to, and use of, oral health care services for children and low-income families.

Something to Smile About: Preventive Dental Care Project for Garrett County
This network was established to provide dental health care to underserved individuals by utilizing existing private providers and providing additional dental care service through a community dental health center, coordinate community efforts to negotiate with managed care organizations (MCOs) and recruit needed health providers to the area, and develop and conduct a comprehensive education campaign promoting preventive dental health care.

Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) Aging Initiative
This project, Worcester County Health Department (WCHD) Aging Initiative [formerly ACCESS] proposed to expand services that promote independent, unrestricted living for Worcester County’s aging population.

Page last updated 6/4/2013
Topic last reviewed 12/7/2012

Events
Jun 23 - 25, 2013
2013 30th Annual Research Meeting
AcademyHealth
Baltimore Convention Center
Baltimore, MD
Contact:
  Gennice Carter
  202.292.6700
  genice.carter@academyhealth.org


Jun 23 - 26, 2013
2013 National Rural Assembly
National Rural Assembly
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center
Bethesda, MD
Contact:
  Whitney Coe
  Whitney@ruralstrategies.org


Jul 23 - 24, 2013
2013 14th Annual National Conference of State Flex Programs
National Rural Health Resource Center
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Bethesda, MD
Contact:
  Nicole Clement
  218.727.9390 x228
  nclement@ruralcenter.org


Oct 13 - 15, 2013
2013 Annual Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative Conference
Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative
Conference theme: Community Connections in the Medical Neighborhood - The Future of the Primary Care Medical Home
Hyatt Regency Bethesda
Bethesda, MD
Contact:
  Ana Lojanica
  202.417.2076
  ana@pcpcc.net


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Funding for this project was supported by Grant Number U56RH05539 from the Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents of this website are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the funder.