EQIP Primary Care

Background

The State is evaluating expanding EQIP to address primary care availability in underserved areas of the state. Under this proposed EQIP Primary Care Program (“EQIP-PC”) organizations would be able to access additional funding to subsidize efforts to increase access to advanced primary care in currently underserved areas.

Under the proposed program the State would seek a small number of organizations for a multi-year commitment under which the organization would receive start-up infrastructure funding in return for adding advanced primary care capacity in the designated areas. The State anticipates funding would help meet start-up challenges such as provider recruitment as well as provide financial security during program ramp-up. Both existing practices who commit to adding new providers and completely new practices would be considered as well as organizations who might then sponsor an advanced primary care practice (such as a large employer or local government).

EQIP PC RFA

Below is the EQIP Primary Care (EQIP PC) Request for Applications (RFA) and accompanying documents. The Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) is releasing this RFA for EQIP PC to interested organizations throughout the State of Maryland. We have been working in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to refine the policy in the context of Maryland’s larger primary care vision and strategy. We have not received final approval for EQIP PC and, therefore, acceptance into this program for 2025 is contingent upon final CMS approval.

HSCRC, in collaboration with the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) and the Maryland Primary Care Program (MDPCP) Program Management Office (PMO), has worked with partners and stakeholders across the State to design EQIP PC with the goal of creating new primary care access in underserved areas of the State. To streamline the State’s approach to advanced primary care, the PMO will be overseeing EQIP PC, while HSCRC provides programmatic support.

The HSCRC and PMO hosted a Q&A meeting on 7/31, see the below recording of the session. Additionally, see the below EQIP PC Q&A document, which will be regularly updated with answers on new questions received. Questions can be sent to EQIP.PrimaryCare@maryland.gov through August 23rd.

Applicants should submit the required documents to EQIP.PrimaryCare@maryland.gov by August 30, 2024.