Maryland Board Approves Hospital Hikes

BALTIMORE -- The panel in charge of setting Maryland hospital rates on Wednesday approved an increase in what medical facilities can charge patients for procedures.

The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission voted without opposition to allow hospitals to increase their rates by 1.65 percent starting in July. The increased rates would be re-examined in December.

Hospitals have long been clamoring for permission to up their rates. Officials say the medical facilities have faced declining operating margins and took a hit when federal budget cuts slashed their share of Medicaid funding by 2 percent. The commission denied hospitals' request for increased rates last month, before approving the modest bump Wednesday.
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