Local healthcare practices receive state funding to expand access to primary care in underserved communities

SALISBURY, Md. – The Maryland Department of Health will provide local healthcare practices with $19 million in funding. Through Maryland’s Episode Quality Improvement Program. (EQIP)

The three local providers include Eastern Shore Primary Care, Somerset Primary Care, and HealthPort. The EQIP initiative aims to expand primary care access to underserved communities.

Vice President of Outpatient Services for HealthPort, Kristine Garlitz, said this new funding will go along with the mission of HealthPort. “We focus on the underserved and underinsured. We had been a mental health provider, but our focus is those who get missed in treatment.”

HealthPort is one of 11 primary care practices in Maryland that received funding, and only 3 of them were on the Eastern Shore. Garlitz believes this grant award will help them impact the community.

“This is such a great opportunity to deliver care in a non-traditional way. Not all health care can happen in a doctor’s office, and not every person feels comfortable there.”

Garlitz calls HealthPort a safety net provider, which means protecting people who face barriers to getting the treatment. She assures the community that with proper funding, the Clinic will be more mobile.

“We’re planning on getting out to the community and using some satellite locations that we have to bring care closer to them. Transportation is such a barrier for services, paying for services is a barrier, and we’re trying to get to folks who otherwise wouldn’t get treatment.”

According to Garlitz, the money will also help HealthPort make their service more intentional.

“We will be creative with how we’re going to deliver care and who we’re going to give care to.”

For more information, call HealthPort directly at 410-341-3420.