Maryland’s Commission on Public Health has released a draft slate of over 60 recommendations to strengthen and modernize the state’s public health system.

After months of discussion and collaboration across five specialized workgroups, the draft was formally adopted at the Commission’s June meeting and will now enter a 30-day public comment period. The recommendations touch nearly every corner of the system, from workforce capacity and emergency preparedness to equity and data modernization.

Local governments are encouraged to review and weigh in on the draft, which includes specific recommendations to enhance state-local coordination, stabilize funding, and support modern governance models. Themes include public engagement, IT infrastructure, flexible funding streams, and cross-cutting concerns like opioid response and maternal health.

From the recommendations:

Revisit Core Funding Formula (ID: FND-054) Review the adequacy of the Core Funding model by Local Health Officers in terms of proportional allocation to each jurisdiction, percentage local:state match for each jurisdiction, categories of public health activities eligible to receive core funds, and any other areas that will benefit from updating the current model that was formalized in the 1990s. Conduct an in-depth assessment of county-level funding models, service delivery activities, and capacity to fulfill foundational public health services to identify successful models that can be used in other settings. (inserted language from CCR-060/County-level assessment) Rationale: Thoughtful revisions would better align Core Funding with modern foundational services. Additionally, the Academic Partner interviews and focus groups reveal that this topic is ripe for additional study. The Joint Chairmen’s Report in 2024 helps illuminate some of the challenges, but the perception remains that more work is needed to address issues with the formula.

As previously covered by MACo, earlier this year, the Maryland Commission on Public Health released its 2024 Interim Report—a key milestone in Maryland’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernize our state and local public health systems.

Feedback is due by July 9 and can be submitted online or by voicemail. The Commission will meet again on July 10 to continue its work, with refinements expected before finalizing recommendations later this year. The Commission’s final report is due to the Governor and General Assembly by October 1, 2025.

Click here to submit feedback on the draft recommendations.