The infant mortality rate for 2000 was 7.6 per 1,000 live births, above the US average of 6.9. There were 11,164 legal abortions in 1999—a rate of 9 per 1,000 women.
In 2000, Maryland's overall death rate (838.4 per 100,000 population) was below the national norm of 873.1. The leading causes of death in 2000 were heart disease (236.6 per 100,000 population) and cerebrovascular diseases (56.6)—both rates below the US average for these categories. Death from diabetes mellitus and HIV were higher than the national rates in 2000. The rate of HIV-related deaths stood at 10.6 per 100,000 population, above the national average of 5.3 in 2000. There were 23,537 AIDS cases reported through 2001. Among persons ages 18 and older, 20.6% were current smokers in 2000. Death from lung disease occurred at a rate of 73.2 per 100,000 population in 2000. The Alcoholism Control Administration monitors rehabilitation programs for alcoholics while the Drug Abuse Administration oversees all drug treatment programs.
Maryland's 49 community hospitals had 608,165 admissions and 11,234 beds in 2001. There were 15,595 full-time registered nurses and 758 full-time licensed practical nurses in 2001 and 406 physicians per 100,000 population in 2000. The average expense of a community hospital for care was $1,180.50 per inpatient day in 2001.
Federal government grants to cover the Medicare and Medicaid services in 2001 totaled $1.9 billion; 654,607 enrollees received Medicare benefits that year. At least 12.3% of the population was uninsured in 2002.
Maryland's two medical schools are at Johns Hopkins University, which operates in connection with the Johns Hopkins Hospital and has superbly equipped research facilities, and at the University of Maryland—both located in Baltimore. Federal health centers located in Bethesda include the National Institutes of Health and the National Naval Medical Center.