January 10th marked the beginning of the 2018 Maryland General Assembly Session. For the next 90-days, BHSB will be dedicating resources to advance our 2018 Policy Priorities to help strengthen the public behavioral health system.
Here's what BHSB's top legislative priorities are for the 2018 Maryland General Assembly:
Ensure reimbursement rate increases for community-based providers in the State's FY 2019 budget.
The HOPE Act requires a 3.5 percent reimbursement rate increase in FY 2019 for community-based behavioral health services. On January 17, the Governor released his FY 2019 budget, which only included a 2 percent rate increase for behavioral health services. BHSB will work with the Behavioral Health Coalition to advocate for the full rate increase.
Identify resources to sustain the LEAD program. BHSB continues to request $425,000 in FY 2019 from BaltimoreCity and the State to sustain the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. View Maryland Public Television's digital video on the LEAD program to see how this program helps people get substance use treatment.
Strengthen and expand crisis services to ensure on demand access to care.BaltimoreCity's crisis response system helps countless Baltimoreans overcome life-threatening crises, but there must be broader investment in it. This is a shared obligation of the city and state, with a range of partners, including BHSB, hospitals and community-based providers. BHSB will continue to advocate for more resources to support these critical services.
Address the opioid overdose epidemic.With nearly 400 overdose deaths in Baltimore City during the first half of the year, lawmakers will continue to look for ways to address the worsening opioid overdose epidemic and reduce fentanyl-related overdose deaths.
