If your head is spinning lately from all of the policy proposals that threaten behavioral health care, you are not alone. To top it off, there are still 18 days left in the 2017 Maryland General Session! Through it all, BHSB has remained focused on
our policy priorities to advance behavioral health and wellness. This alert provides an update of where our priorities stand and
some simple steps you can take NOW to support behavioral health.
Behavioral Health in Annapolis
Fight to Keep The Door Open!
Senator Guy Guzzone (District 13) and Delegate Antonio Hayes (District 40) introduced the Keep the Door Open (KTDO) Act to provide regular reimbursement rate increase for community-based providers. Last Saturday, the bill has passed unanimously (46-0) out of the Maryland Senate with amendments. BHSB has played a leading role in helping to craft amendments and we remain optimistic that a bill that supports behavioral health infrastructure will pass. Senate amendments include:
3.5% cap for next 2 years and then 3% annually until a rate study is completed
Funding increase to accredited providers
A reimbursement rate study of all behavioral health services
Take Action:
Share the KTDO factsheets. The Behavioral Health Coalition has developed several one-page documents that make the case for why we need to pass KTDO. You can access the one-pages here.
Contact your representative on the Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO). HGO has not voted on the Keep the Door Open Act. The committee members need to hear from their constituents about how important this legislation is for the 1 in 4 Marylanders living with a mental health or substance use disorder. If you have a representative on HGO, we need your help!
ACA Replacement Bill Slashes Medicaid and Behavioral Health Services
Congressional Republican leaders are on the fast track to repeal major portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The House of Representatives released the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which will result in dramatic reductions to Medicaid coverage. Over the next ten years, the AHCA is projected to cut $880 billion dollars from Medicaid. These cuts and rollbacks of the Medicaid expansion would result in a loss of coverage for an estimated 14 million people including millions receiving treatment for substance use and mental health disorders.
Click here for more information on health care reform.
House Republicans want to move to vote on the AHCA today! The Senate is planning to vote on the House bill before the mid-April recess.
The proposed changes to health care system will significantly reduce existing coverage and access to care for individuals, families, and youth with mental health and/or substance use disorders!
Take Action:
Contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them to stop the repeal of the ACA and the cuts to Medicaid - We need to explain why the ACA and Medicaid are essential to people with mental health and substance use disorders.
Attend Amplifying Our Voices Rally organized by Action Not Anger and co-sponsored by Consumer Health First and other organizations on Saturday, March 25th at 10:00 AM at Lawyer's Mall in Annapolis.
Stay Informed! Things are changing rapidly to stay up to date please visit the BHSB website for more information on the ACA repeal and the American Health Care Act.
