History

1997

Baltimore HealthCare Access (original name): Establishes two core functions: Eligibility and Care Coordination/Ombudsman Services due to a change in Medicaid model.

1998

Mail-in applications received for Maryland Children Health Program; Care Coordination Services and Service Ombudsman; School Health Program assisting to ensure that school age children have access to health insurance.

2000

40 Staff: 3 million dollar budget; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funding for three years to support insurance enrollment to children in Baltimore City Schools.

2004

Maternal Infant Health Improvement Project to outreach all pregnant women referred via prenatal risk assessments from OB providers in the City; approximately 6000 women a year. Kathleen Westcoat, MPH, named new CEO of Baltimore HealthCare Access.

2006

Baltimore Buprenorphine Initiative: Collaboration between the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore HealthCare Access and Baltimore Substance Abuse Services to address Opioid epidemic with care coordination services to those in drug treatment programs across the city.

2007

Baltimore HealthCare Access celebrates 10 years at Visionary Arts Museum; Emergency fund renamed Veronica Guthrie (BHCA staff who succumbed to long-term illness) Emergency Fund; Medicaid Expansion Programs – Primary Adult Care and Medicaid 4 Families provided coverage to single adult and parents of dependent children.

2008-2009

United Way of Central Maryland/211 Collaborative to create Health Care Hotline to link Baltimore City residents to health insurance and low cost health care; MATCH Program; collaboration with Baltimore City DSS, created to provide Medical Case Management to children in foster care; Operation Care Program: collaborative with Baltimore City Fire Department, initiated to provide care coordination to clients identified as high utilizers of 911; Homeless Services team begins street outreach to connect chronically homeless adults to shelter and housing.

2010

Second Chance Jail Project, connecting incarcerated clients to health benefits and primary care services prior to release. Funded by Abell Foundation, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Open Society Institute for three years.

2011

Rebranding Event; name change to HealthCare Access Maryland in preparation of ACA rollout. Connected more than 100,000 clients to healthcare and community resources.

2012

HealthCare Access Maryland commemorates 15 years with celebration at Baltimore Aquarium.

2013

HCAM awarded Connector grant for Central Region under the Affordable Care Act; Partnership with Sinai Hospital to reduce ED utilization: Funded by the Maryland Community Health Resource Commission for three years.

2015

Population Health Based Programs developed with hospital partners Health Link.

2015-2016

Traci Kodeck serves as interim CEO from December 2015 to June 2016. After a national search, the board unanimously confirms her as permanent CEO for HCAM on her birthday in June 2016.

2017

HCAM is awarded Midwestern Region; now Connector Entity in Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Carroll County, Howard County and Frederick County; HCAM celebrates 20 years of service to the residents of Maryland; 200 staff; 18 million dollar budget.

2018

HCAM moves to its new home at 1 N. Charles St., dedicating their board room to the Honorable Congressman Elijah E. Cummings.

2019

Establishes HCAM’s first state wide initiative across the prison systems enrolling inmates in Medicaid prior to release in collaboration with Corizon Health.

2020

Transitions to telework status in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic and joins the Baltimore Health Corps to help COVID positive patients navigate the health care space hiring 42 new staff.