Baltimore Sun

Almost half of the patients flown by helicopter to Maryland trauma centers are released within 24 hours, making some lawmakers wonder whether the state’s vaunted Medevac system is overused.

At an Annapolis hearing Thursday morning, legislators plan to question state medical officials about the discharge rates and overall efficiency of the Medevac program. The hearing was prompted in part by a legislative audit last month that was critical of the Maryland State Police’s fiscal management and maintenance of the program’s aging 12-helicopter fleet.

“The audit report brought up one piece of the helicopter issue,” said Del. Dan K. Morhaim, a Baltimore County Democrat and co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing. “It also means you should look at the operations in general.” Officials with the state’s Medevac system defend the use of the helicopters, saying they save lives.