Meritus president and CEO to chair board of Maryland Physicians Care

HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Board of Directors of Maryland Physicians Care, a locally managed care organization that provides insurance and health benefits to vulnerable and low-income community members, has named Meritus Health President and CEO Maulik Joshi, Dr. P.H., chair of the board.

“It is an honor to be named chair of MPC, which has been helping to make receiving health care possible for many across the state of Maryland,” Joshi said. “Everyone deserves access to the health services they need. MPC allows so many of our neighbors to access health and dental care, resources and health education. The health of our communities relies on neighbors being able to afford needed care.”

Maryland Physicians Care is jointly owned by Meritus Health, Ascension Saint Agnes, Holy Cross Health and UPMC Western Maryland. Its goal is to ensure that Maryland Medicaid recipients have access to quality healthcare services while also promoting preventive care and wellness initiatives. MPC has more than 240,000 members.

Over the last 12 months, MPC has donated more than $2 million to its local owners’ communities. These donations have targeted social determinants of health and provider access issues within these communities. The donations include:

• Meritus Health in Hagerstown, Md. — $75,000 to Horizon Goodwill Inc. in part to support the health hub on North Prospect Street in downtown Hagerstown. The building, owned by Horizon Goodwill, features a Meritus primary care office, as well as a job training facility. Plans call for a grocery store, filling a crucial need in the downtown area. Also donated was $200,000 toward the creation of the Meritus Mental Health Walk-In Care center. The facility on the Meritus Medical Center campus is a partnership between the health system and Brook Lane, serving as a crucial resource for individuals aged 6 and older. The center caters to children, adolescents and adults facing mild-to-moderate mental health crises.
• Ascension Saint Agnes in Baltimore — $675,000 to Roberta’s House for school-based grief and emotional wellness programs; $60,000 to UEmpower of Maryland to support The Food Project; $150,000 to Goodwill Industries of the Chesapeake for its Excel Center training; $40,000 to support Saint Joseph’s Monastery Parish’s community outreach; and $75,000 to Action in Maturity for an ADA compliant vehicle.
• Holy Cross Health – Montgomery County — $450,000 to Primary Care Coalition to complement Nexus Montgomery workforce development by providing wrap-around services to address social needs of the students.
• UPMC Western Maryland in Cumberland, Md. — $120,588 to Western Maryland Food Bank for food assistance and roof repairs; $25,000 to the Allegany County Department of Social Services for food assistance and holiday meals; $30,000 to the Salvation Army in Cumberland to assist with medical travel outside of the greater Cumberland area; $25,000 to the Union Rescue Mission in Cumberland for food assistance; and $50,000 to Associated Charities of Cumberland for medication assistance.

“MPC is very excited to have Dr. Maulik Joshi as our new chairman of the Board of Directors,” said Jason Rottman, CEO of MPC. “Dr. Joshi brings a wealth of knowledge to this role with extensive experience in the healthcare industry. Dr. Joshi’s commitment to serving the community and, in particular, the Medicaid population, fits perfectly with the MPC’s mission. I look forward to the ideas and energy he will bring to the role.”