This story was corrected on Jan. 17, 2012. An explanation follows the story.

ANNAPOLIS -- Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration will seek legislation this year to allow officials to designate underserved communities in Maryland for tax credits and other state incentives to improve health care delivery.

The incentives would be aimed at communities lacking in health care providers and that show health disparities among racial and ethnic groups, according to a news release from Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, who will lead the administration's effort to pass legislation to create a pilot program for the Health Enterprise zones.

The incentives, which could include loan assistance, tax credits and help toward implementing health information technology, would be aimed at eligible community organizations that coordinate or deliver health care services, or local health departments.

The creation of such zones is among the recommendations of the Maryland Health Quality and Cost Council Health Disparities Workgroup, which Brown launched in the summer. The group studied methods to reduce and eliminate health care disparities in the state.

“Maryland has world-class hospitals, top medical schools, and one of the highest rates of primary care physicians per capita, and yet we continue to see disparities in health care and outcomes among Maryland's racial and ethnic communities,” Brown said in the release. “It's clear that a lack of access to primary care in many communities is a significant factor driving these disparities.”

In Maryland, blacks have an infant mortality rate nearly three times that of whites, an incidence of new HIV infections nearly 12 times that of whites and are almost twice as likely as whites to lack health insurance, according to the release.

Hispanics also are less likely to have health insurance than are whites, the release states.

The zones would be designated by state health officials based on applications from eligible providers who participate in Medicaid.

The legislation would not seek to identify which communities in Maryland should be targeted for incentives, said Marc Goldberg, Brown's press secretary. He added that data show the state's urban and rural areas -- including Baltimore city and the Eastern Shore -- are the most likely to show disparities in health care availability and health outcomes.

The Senate chairwoman of the General Assembly's Baltimore city delegation said the designation of such zones could increase access to health care in the city.

“I think any kind of incentive you can provide to individuals to get them to serve in those communities is great,” said Sen. Verna L. Jones-Rodwell (D-Dist. 44) of Baltimore, adding that she did not yet know the details of the proposal.

House Minority Whip Del. Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio (R-Dist. 37B) of Newcomb, who also is House chairman of the Talbot County delegation, also said she had not yet seen the proposal's details. But she added that access to good health care is a problem on the Eastern Shore and in rural Maryland generally.

“We want to do whatever we can to strengthen affordable and quality health care on the Eastern Shore,” she said.

skelly@gazette.net

Correction: In the original story Marc Goldberg was incorrectly identified.