The 439th session of the Maryland General Assembly commenced at noon on January 9th. Due to the elections this past November there is an unprecedented number of new legislators. BHSB is excited to work with all our new and old legislators this session to advance our 2019 Policy Priorities to help strengthen the public behavioral health system.
BHSB’s top legislative priorities for the 2019 Maryland General Assembly session are:
Ensure reimbursement rate increase for community-based behavioral health providers established through the HOPE Act of 2016 (HB1329) are included in the State’s FY 2020 budget
Increase access to medication-assisted treatment for people with substance use disorders
Provide accessible mental health and substance use disorder services that are strengths-based and recovery-oriented for people who are incarcerated in adult and juvenile correctional facilities
Governor Boyd Rutherford Announces Increased Investments for Treatment, Prevention and a New Commission
On January 10, 2019, Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford joined state and local leaders to announce new Hogan administration initiatives to expand substance use prevention and treatment efforts, including a new commission to study behavioral health. The new commission will focus on studying the correlation between mental illness and substance use disorders.Click here to learn more.
Save the Date for the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition March on Annapolis – February 20th at 12 pm
Be an advocate for behavioral health and wellness! March with us and make your voice heard in Annapolis on February 20, 2019 at 12:00 pm for the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition March on Annapolis. To learn more visit KeepTheDoorOpen.org.
