Maryland veterans secretary reports Charlotte Hall improvements, $54.5M in benefits last year
March 21, 2026 | Southern Maryland, Delegation Committees, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative, Maryland
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Maryland’s secretary for veterans and military families updated the Southern Maryland delegation on March 20, saying the department has expanded services, improved operations at Charlotte Hall and paid out substantial benefits to veterans.
The secretary (identified in the transcript as Rothstein) said the department provided more than $54.5 million in claims and benefits last year and described a recent case in which a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran received a $123,000 lump sum payment and ongoing monthly benefits. The secretary said Charlotte Hall currently houses about 285 residents and receives roughly $47–$50 million annually in operating support; she said the facility’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rating had improved from one star to four stars under recent leadership.
“We’re in a third year of a 4-plus-1 contract with Truett Health,” the secretary said, describing the arrangement and noting plans for an internal leadership transition and a national search for an executive director. She thanked Sharon Murphy, who stepped in to help lead Charlotte Hall.
The secretary also described the department’s network of 25 veteran-support officers across Maryland (10 colocated with MBAs in the remarks) and said new office openings this year include sites in Annapolis, Waldorf and Frederick. She said the department maintains a biweekly newsletter with about 200,000 readers and an approximately 40% click rate, and invited the delegation to help with publicizing local services.
The secretary highlighted cemetery operations, saying Maryland inters veterans from multiple states and handles more than 3,000 interments a year across its facilities. The department emphasized local partnership and on-the-ground services, and the secretary asked the delegation to continue sharing feedback so officials can improve outreach and benefit access.
Delegate Edith Patterson thanked the secretary for the comprehensive booklet provided to the delegation and for the department’s work on disability-related inquiries and sickle-cell issues affecting service members and families.
The briefing did not include new regulatory action; it was an informational update and the delegation asked the department to continue coordination on outreach and program visibility.
The secretary (identified in the transcript as Rothstein) said the department provided more than $54.5 million in claims and benefits last year and described a recent case in which a 77-year-old Vietnam veteran received a $123,000 lump sum payment and ongoing monthly benefits. The secretary said Charlotte Hall currently houses about 285 residents and receives roughly $47–$50 million annually in operating support; she said the facility’s Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rating had improved from one star to four stars under recent leadership.
“We’re in a third year of a 4-plus-1 contract with Truett Health,” the secretary said, describing the arrangement and noting plans for an internal leadership transition and a national search for an executive director. She thanked Sharon Murphy, who stepped in to help lead Charlotte Hall.
The secretary also described the department’s network of 25 veteran-support officers across Maryland (10 colocated with MBAs in the remarks) and said new office openings this year include sites in Annapolis, Waldorf and Frederick. She said the department maintains a biweekly newsletter with about 200,000 readers and an approximately 40% click rate, and invited the delegation to help with publicizing local services.
The secretary highlighted cemetery operations, saying Maryland inters veterans from multiple states and handles more than 3,000 interments a year across its facilities. The department emphasized local partnership and on-the-ground services, and the secretary asked the delegation to continue sharing feedback so officials can improve outreach and benefit access.
Delegate Edith Patterson thanked the secretary for the comprehensive booklet provided to the delegation and for the department’s work on disability-related inquiries and sickle-cell issues affecting service members and families.
The briefing did not include new regulatory action; it was an informational update and the delegation asked the department to continue coordination on outreach and program visibility.
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