June 16, 2026 | View as Webpage

CEO Message

EQIP Enrollment Starts June 29th!

MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society, is excited to announce that enrollment for the Episode Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) will be open June 29 through August 21, 2026.

Since its launch in 2022, EQIP has become a leading value-based care model in Maryland, rewarding practitioners for improving the quality of care and reducing the cost of care.

EQIP has demonstrated strong results across its first three performance years. Most recently, EQIP achieved $62.6 million in total cost-of-care savings in Performance Year 3 (CY2024) and distributed $29.1 million in incentive payments to participants. EQIP is a collaborative effort led by the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC), MedChi, and CRISP, the state-designated health information exchange. Together, these organizations work closely with practitioners and clinical experts across the state to expand participation in Advanced Alternative Payment Models (AAPMs) through EQIP.

In its sixth performance year, EQIP will offer more than 130 clinical episodes across a wide range of specialties, including Allergy/ENT, Behavioral Health, Cardiology/Vascular, Dermatology, Emergency Department, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, General Surgery/Wound Care, Hematology/Oncology, Infectious Disease, Nephrology, Neurology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics/MSK, Pulmonary/Critical Care, Rheumatology, and Urology.

Practitioners and healthcare leaders are encouraged to visit the EQIP Curriculum on the CRISP Learning System to explore comprehensive learning modules designed to support successful participation.

During the enrollment period, June 29 through August 21, 2026, both new and returning participants must apply through the EQIP Entity Portal (EEP). New participants are required to submit a

Pre-Enrollment Form by August 7, 2026, to gain access to the full application.

For more information or assistance, please contact the EQIP Team TODAY.

Gene M. Ransom III

CEO

MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society

Response Requested: FAMLI Survey on Medical Certifications

The Maryland Department of Labor’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (FAMLI) would like your help completing a survey about medical certification forms. The survey is expected to take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

Take the Survey Here

As background, eligible Maryland employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid, job-protected leave starting in 2028. Employees can take leave to welcome a new child, tend to a serious health condition, care for a loved one, or manage urgent family needs related to deployment—while still being paid up to $1,000 per week.

For some types of paid leave, employees will have to submit a medical certification form signed by a licensed health care practitioner certifying their qualifying event, similar to existing Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) documentation.

This study will help FAMLI understand your current processes and pain points regarding medical certification, your appetite for digital certification, and any additional complexities they might need to take into account. Your feedback will help them design a medical certification form and process that is clear and easy to use.

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, June 30- MPHP "Lemons to Lemonade" Program
Tuesday, July 21- Baltimore City Medical Society & Foundation Annual Summer Social
Wednesday, August 5- Washington County Medical Society Membership Meeting
Friday, Sept. 25- Lunchtime Webinar "Getting AHEAD, Gaining ACCESS, and Improving Your Physician Practice Financial Health"
Wednesday, Sept. 30 - Mid-Shore County Medical Societies Membership Meeting
Saturday, Oct. 10- MedChi Fall House of Delegates and Annual Meeting

See Our Full Calendar

Member Resources & Opportunities

Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) - Clean Claims Public Meetings

The Maryland Insurance Administration is holding meetings, on July 1 and August 18, to gather input from physicians and other health care professionals on the clean claims process. Details and registration here.

Workplace Violence Prevention Standard Development: Stakeholder Meetings

Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) is developing a workplace violence prevention standard as part of its implementation of the Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act. MOSH will host a series of in-person and virtual public meetings to engage and receive information from stakeholders and interested parties.

Please use the links to register for the in-person or virtual meetings that you plan to attend. Participants are strongly encouraged to register at least two working days before the scheduled session, and if interested in sharing information, please indicate so on the registration form. Depending on the number of speaking requests received, there may be a limited amount of time allotted to each speaker. Also, please contact mosh.outreach@maryland.gov at least five working days before the scheduled session if you have language or disability accommodation requests.

When to Review Your Medical Practice Insurance Coverage

As medical practices grow and evolve, keeping insurance coverage aligned with operational changes helps prevent complications and ensures protection keeps pace.

For more information on when to review your medical practice insurance coverage, click here.

Members in the News

MedChi Leadership Featured in WYPR News: Medically Frail Maryland Residents Will See Hurdles Next Year to Keep Medicaid

Dr. Kathryn Kelly, M.D., MedChi member, Vice President of the Montgomery County Medical Society, and Center for a Healthy Maryland board member, and MedChi CEO Gene Ransom were recently featured in WYPR News' radio segment, discussing how changes to Medicaid requirements will ultimately shift costs as access to primary care physicians will decrease, likely resulting in higher emergency room visits. Click here for more.

MedChi Member Featured on ABC 7 News: "What's Really in Your Supplements"

MedChi member Jennifer Gourdin, M.D., a sports medicine physician with Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, shares her expertise in this article regarding dietary supplements and what to look out for, reminding patients to start a conversation with their physician before starting any supplement regimen. Click here to read more.

MedChi President Featured in Baltimore Sun: "New Cancer Screening Guidelines Will Save Lives in Maryland"

MedChi President Eric Wargotz, M.D. was featured in the Baltimore Sun, praising the latest cancer screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society. Click here to read more.

If you have news to share about yourself, a colleague, or your practice, and would like us to feature it in MedChi News,

please contact Olivia Ballmann. All submissions are subject to review and approval.

Submission does not guarantee inclusion, publication, or use.