At MedStar Harbor Hospital, we recognize that health plays an important role in building and sustaining vibrant and strong communities.
Based on our community health needs assessment conducted at MedStar Harbor, we have developed programs and services that address these priority areas.
Our work involves addressing chronic disease prevention and management for heart disease/stroke, cancer, diabetes, and obesity. We offer evidence-based courses that focus in on helping you manage chronic diseases such as hypertension, pain, diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis.
For behavioral health, we are partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) to deliver information on mental health conditions and resources available within our community. To curb deaths from opioid overdose, we are joining efforts with the Baltimore City Health Department in the quest to train as many people as possible to administer naloxone, a life-saving medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose.
We also know that health is a complex interplay between multiple variables of physical, social, and economic factors. We are proud to work with a number of community-based organizations to alleviate barriers to improving health status, including addressing lack of access to healthy food, transportation, and job opportunities.
These initiatives collectively allow us to focus in on population health—the improvement of health outcomes for the residents and surrounding areas that we serve.
Community health needs assessment
Our Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and three-year implementation strategy identify our hospital's community benefit service area, the most important health priorities, and activities with measurable outcomes. The CHNA uses a community-driven approach that supports the hospital in planning and carrying out community-based programming to more effectively handle the health needs of underserved and vulnerable populations.
Report to the community
Read our report to the community to learn about the impact our classes, events, and programs are making in the Baltimore community.
Community Health Outreach Request
Thank you for considering MedStar Health as your community partner. We truly value the work of community-based organizations to build healthier communities.
If you would like our Community Health team to visit your organization, click here for more information.
Leadership team
Kimberly Floyd, MSN, RN
Interim Assistant Vice President, Care Transformation
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Wendy Zhang, DNP, FNP-BC, CCCTM
Regional Director, Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Samantha Sailsman, MS, CCHW
Regional Director, Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Naima Holland, MSN, RN
Interim RN Regional Director
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
Bronwen Hall, MSN, RN
RN Program Manager
Population and Community Health
MedStar Health, Baltimore Region
MedStar Harbor Hospital’s 340B program
About the 340B Drug Pricing Program
The 340B Drug Pricing Program is a federal program that allows eligible hospitals, health centers, and clinics serving low-income and rural communities to purchase outpatient medications at significant, federally mandated discounts. Established by Congress in 1992, the program helps providers stretch limited resources and reinvest savings to improve access to care, support community health services, and address social factors that affect the health and well-being of underserved patients in the communities they serve.
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340B Defined
The 340B Drug Pricing program is a bi-partisan program created by Congress in 1992. As defined by the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration:
“The 340B Program enables covered entities to stretch scarce federal resources as far as possible, reaching more eligible patients and providing more comprehensive services.
Manufacturers participating in Medicaid agree to provide outpatient drugs to covered entities at significantly reduced prices.
[These savings are inherently not funded through taxpayer dollars, they are supported through required reduced pricing from drug manufacturers.]
Eligible healthcare organizations/covered entities are defined in statute and include HRSA-supported health centers and look-alikes, Ryan White clinics and State AIDS Drug Assistance programs, Medicare/Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospitals, children’s hospitals, and other safety net providers.
To participate in the 340B Program, eligible organizations/covered entities must register and be enrolled with the 340B program and comply with all 340B Program requirements. Once enrolled, covered entities are assigned a 340B identification number that vendors verify before allowing an organization to purchase 340B discounted drugs”.
Source: HRSA.gov/OPA -
Why It Matters
MedStar Harbor Hospital is eligible for this essential and critical program and is registered and enrolled with the 340B Program which allows us to stretch our resources and continue to provide services to our communities. By purchasing outpatient medications at reduced prices through the 340B Program, MedStar Harbor Hospital can reinvest those savings into programs and services that improve health and well-being across our communities.
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Supporting our Mission
The savings MedStar Harbor Hospital receives from eligibility for 340B specifically supports our mission and allows us to advance programs and services that directly benefit the community. Although savings from the program are only a small fraction of our total community benefit, they are very meaningful. Savings earned by MedStar Harbor Hospital through the 340B Program totaled $5.22 million in 2025, which is significantly less than the organization’s overall Community Benefit investment of $36.3 million during the same period. MedStar Harbor Hospital has consistently allocated resources to programs and community support initiatives that far exceed the savings realized through the 340B Program.
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340B Program Savings Making an Impact
At MedStar Harbor Hospital, 340B savings make a real difference and directly impacts our ability to provide services in our community. The 340B program allows us to support access to health care services, improve health and wellness and impact social determinants of health to patients in communities.
They help us provide:
- Affordable medications through retail and charitable pharmacies
- Medication management clinics and patient assistance programs
- Primary and cancer care
- Behavioral health services
- Preventive care initiatives
Access to Care and Coordination of Care for Vulnerable Populations
MedStar Harbor Hospital is committed to ensuring our patients are able to safely and seamlessly return to their community of care upon leaving the hospital. MHH has programs available to help those who may be more vulnerable due to their medical complexity, social situation, or lack of means to access needed services or medicines.
- The Transitional Care (TC) Program is a no-cost safety net service designed to support patients transitioning from hospital to home. Its primary goals are to improve patient outcomes, enhance communication and coordination among healthcare providers, and reduce the risk of patients declining after leaving the hospital. Trained nurses and social workers in the program proactively outreach patients at highest risk due to their medical and social complexity, providing structured telephonic- and technology-based support to ensure continuity of care between the hospital team and the patient’s doctors in the community. The clinical teams are assisted by Care Navigators, who provide real-time assistance scheduling all necessary follow-up appointments with existing providers or new specialists. Outreach occurs within 2 business days of discharge, and patients are followed for up to 30 days, receiving regular check-ins tailored to their needs.
- Pharmacy Access & Affordability Assistance
In order to improve access and affordability of prescribed medications, our hospital provides discharge medications delivered to the bedside for eligible patients as a free service. This service eliminates barriers to access such as transportation and pharmacy availability, educates patients to take prescribed medications as instructed, and ensures affordability of the plan of care in direct consultation with the patient prior to their discharge. Those who do have affordability concerns despite pharmacy consultation can benefit from Prescription Assistance Funding program which helps provide financial assistance to those in need. - Antimicrobial Stewardship
Pharmacists provide guidance to the healthcare team for the safe and cost-effective use of antimicrobial agents with the goal of reducing reinfections and improving patient care.
Addressing Social Needs of Our Patients and Communities
MedStar Harbor Hospital provides screening to all our admitted patients for social needs impacting their health using our Social Needs Tool, and those who are identified as having needs for assistance are connected to numerous programs and partnerships to address the social needs of patients and community members. This includes access to our online directory of community social needs and resources, free or low-cost services encompassing assistance with medical care, healthy food, transportation, legal, utilities, and more.
- The Community Health Advocate (CHA) Program is a no-cost program to help patients with a particularly significant burden of social determinants impacting their health. This team, comprised of certified advocates recruited and trained from our community, provides direct patient assistance services, application assistance and referrals to community resources such as transportation, housing, health literacy, workforce development, and financial education. Advocates partner with patients as long as they need assistance, providing personal, relationship-based advocacy as they navigate a complex health environment.
Health & Wellness
MedStar Harbor Hospital delivers evidence-based, outcome-focused chronic disease management and prevention programs and services in its Community Benefit Service Area (CBSA).
- Fitness, Health & Wellness Programs
Free community-based and hospital-led programs are delivered across the Baltimore Region to promote physical activity, nutrition, stress reduction, and chronic disease prevention. These initiatives support improved long-term health outcomes. Offerings also include substance abuse prevention, grief support, healthcare navigation assistance and others. - Maternal Wellness, Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes
Classes are available at our hospital to support expectant and new parents with evidence-based education on pregnancy, childbirth, infant care, and parenting, contributing to improved maternal and child health outcomes. Some parts of the program are free of charge and others are offered at a cost based on ability to pay.
Without the 340B program, sustaining these vital services would be a challenge—and many patients in our communities would lose access to the care they need.
Our commitment is simple: use every dollar saved through the 340B Program to improve health, expand access, and strengthen the communities we serve.