There are dozens of steps in the landing sequence to return an airplane to terra firma and, if conditions aren't just right for each, touching down safely becomes a much riskier proposition.

With less than three weeks to go before the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) votes on hospitals' global budget update for the coming year, the conditions are favorable for a safe landing ... but conditions can change.

Over the past month, MHA staff have been meeting with HSCRC staff as well as commissioners themselves. The result is a shared understanding of what hospitals need to help the state succeed under the now 18-month-year-old waiver agreement - an understanding that has been translated into an HSCRC staff recommendation for fiscal year 2016 that hospitals can get behind. The update is a healthy 3.1 percent average per capita, which includes funds for investment in long-term waiver success. A majority of commissioners at last week's HSCRC meeting seemed inclined to vote for the recommendation.

But we're not on the ground just yet.

At the meeting, MHA testified in support of the staff recommendation, with a couple of minor changes, and yesterday we submitted a letter echoing that testimony. Now, the task at hand is to ensure that our final approach is a smooth one and the global budget update lands as recommended.

MHA will continue to meet with commissioners and HSCRC staff to reinforce the need for resources to mitigate the long-term, inherent and substantial risk in caring for an unknown number of patients with unpredictable care needs within a fixed global budget. And we'll be on full watch for any signs that could push the landing path off course.

Maryland Senate President Mike Miller will join us at our Monday evening reception, June 1, 6-8 p.m.

During the Tuesday, June 2, morning general session, share the pride we all feel when hospital leaders and staff go above and beyond the call of duty ...we'll tell a very special story as we present the MHA Distinguished Service Award.

Learn from your colleagues how the transformation of health care in Maryland is taking place - community by community, through three peer-to-peer breakout sessions: Creating Community and Consumer Partnerships, HEZs and House Calls, and The Move to Population Health: Is It Working?

And don't miss our notable speakers: Paul H. Keckley, Ph.D., Managing Director, Navigant Center for Healthcare Research and Policy Analysis; and Leana Wen, M.D., SSc., Commissioner, Baltimore City Health Department.

We look forward to seeing you June 1 and 2 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore. Click here for a copy of the invitation brochure.

Online registration ends TODAY! Click HERE to register!

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