HMA’s Mission Statement Health Management Associates, Inc. is dedicated to service. HMA will provide the highest quality and consistent advocacy, representation, and consulting services for all we encounter. HMA establishes and fosters an environment for our employees that encourages innovation and rewards excellence. Since our founding in 1988, our staff and our attention to detail and outcome continue to be directed to the service and benefit of all of our clients. HMA provides insight, expertise, knowledge, and service to clients and government. HMA History In 1987, the Maryland Departments of Human Resources (DHR) and Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) contracted jointly with a vendor to initiate the Disability Entitlement Advocacy Program (DEAP). The original vendor defaulted on the contract. The Deputy Secretary of DHMH, having had experience in other health care arenas, contacted Joseph LaAsmar asking that he assist in running the program through the end of the contract period. Health Management Associates was incorporated in 1988 for the sole purpose of assuming management of the DEAP. Upon initiating management, Mr. LaAsmar and his management team saw that the program could become the success the State of Maryland had hoped for. Since that time, HMA has been the selected vendor for managing DEAP in every competitive bid process held by the State. HMA is credited for making this nationally-recognized program a success. Over the past 22 years in which we have held the contract for DEAP, several of HMA's ideas to better serve the State of Maryland and its neediest citizens have been adopted and included as service enhancements to DEAP. In those same 22 years HMA has received recognition and accolades from the federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Social Security Administration. HMA has been honored to serve on panels and as committee members in the development (Medicare D) and refinement of federally and nationally offered programs. Today, HMA employs 35 people in support of Maryland's DEAP due to budgetary restraints. HMA also conducts business under the business entity of Disability Advocates (DA). In this service offering, we provide representation services to the greater public as a private firm. DA has served thousands of citizens from Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington, D.C. to attain Social Security disability benefits. HMA is continuing to grow DA by entering into arrangements with other organizations to provide disability evaluation and determination services on their behalf to their already established client bases and to address the vacuum created by the State decision to limit then terminate funding of DEAP. |
