Baltimore, MD, August 3, 2026 —

Maryland’s Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) is experiencing a significant leadership transition with the upcoming departures of its Chair, Joshua Sharfstein, and Executive Director, Jon Kromm. Their exits coincide with the state’s move to implement the new Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design (AHEAD) model for hospital rate-setting, a system that both Sharfstein and Kromm played key roles in negotiating.

Joshua Sharfstein, who previously served as Maryland’s Health Secretary, is set to return to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Jon Kromm will be returning to his former position at Health Management Associates.

In the interim, William Henderson has been appointed as the interim executive director. The commission has not yet named a new chair to succeed Sharfstein.

The leadership changes at the HSCRC occur during a critical juncture as Maryland adopts the AHEAD model. This new framework is intended to reshape how hospital rates are set, aiming for greater efficiency and accountability within the healthcare system. The expertise of Sharfstein and Kromm was instrumental in the development and negotiation of this transitional model.

The article notes that past discussions have included controversies surrounding Sharfstein’s initial appointment and considerations regarding gender parity within the commission. These elements are part of the historical context surrounding the HSCRC’s operations.

The Health Services Cost Review Commission is tasked with overseeing hospital costs and rate-setting in Maryland, playing a crucial role in the state’s healthcare finance structure. The transition in leadership, coupled with the implementation of the AHEAD model, marks a new chapter for the commission and the state’s approach to healthcare economics.



Story summarized from the original created by Danielle J. Brown on marylandmatters.org, see more information here.

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