2nd Hospital In Howard County Unlikely: New Report

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Building a second hospital in Howard County is unlikely under current state requirements, according to a new report that identified 65 problems affecting residents' access to healthcare and recommended 25 changes to improve services.

The Howard County Provider Forum released its final report this week following 15 months of research, community meetings and collaboration among healthcare providers, government officials and other organizations. Leaders discussed the report's findings during a news conference.

The report, titled The Starting Line: A Roadmap to Transform Healthcare in Howard County, examined emergency room overcrowding, shortages of primary care and behavioral health providers, staffing challenges and difficulties coordinating patient care.

One of the group's primary responsibilities was determining whether Howard County needs another hospital. The forum found that current state projections do not show a need for additional general acute care hospital beds in central Maryland, making the approval of a second hospital highly unlikely under existing conditions, the report stated.

In Maryland, new hospitals must receive a Certificate of Need from the Maryland Health Care Commission first, which evaluates whether a proposed facility is necessary and financially feasible, leaders explained during a news conference.

The forum also identified staffing shortages, financial requirements and state healthcare cost controls as obstacles to opening another hospital.

Instead, the group recommended expanding existing healthcare services, improving access to treatment outside hospitals and addressing factors contributing to emergency room overcrowding.

The report outlined 25 recommendations focusing on improving patient access, strengthening communication among healthcare providers, helping patients transition from hospitals to community care and recruiting additional healthcare workers.

One recommendation called for establishing a permanent Commission on Healthcare Access and Integration to oversee implementation of the proposals.

Another would expand the county's SmartER program, which helps residents identify healthcare options other than emergency rooms when emergency treatment is not necessary.

The forum was established by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball in July 2025 through an executive order. More than 300 residents participated in public forums and community listening sessions during the review, which helped compose the report.

"We asked some of the busiest and most accomplished professionals in our community to take on an enormous task during an already demanding time for healthcare," Ball said at news conference highlighting the report. "They rose to the occasion, bringing their expertise, creativity and an unwavering commitment to the people of Howard County."

The forum also reported that all adult urgent care centers in Howard County have joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Community Care Network, expanding healthcare options for approximately 20,000 local veterans.

"The title of this report, The Starting Line, reflects an important reality. Completing this report represents a significant achievement, but the real measure of our success will be what happens next," Matthew Castner, chairman of the Howard County Provider Forum and director of population health at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center, said at a news conference.

County officials said they now will work with healthcare providers and community organizations to evaluate the recommendations and determine which changes can be implemented.

A timeline and estimated cost for carrying out all 25 recommendations have not been announced.