The rates hospitals can charge for care would remain flat for the first six months of 2014 amid uncertainty over hospitals' financial stability and proposed changes in how they are compensated, under a draft recommendation made by a state panel Wednesday. Maryland's hospital rate-setting agency typically sets the terms for hospitals' reimbursement on an annual basis, but took a more tentative approach because of the upheaval. Earlier this year, most state hospitals were given a 1.65 percent increase in rates for the first half of fiscal year 2014, which began in July, and the Health Services Cost Review Commission is suggesting that rates remain the same for the second half.
