The 2018 session of the Maryland General Assembly concluded last Monday, April 9th, at midnight.  This year, the General Assembly considered over 3,000 bills and resolutions. Now that we have had a week to recover, we can celebrate some victories and digest the impact of this session on behavioral health in our community. 

Please read our full  2018 Legislative Session Summary for more details on behavioral health in the 2018 Maryland General Assembly. 

One of our top priorities was to ensure the full 3.5% rate increase for community behavioral health services was included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget.  Because of strong advocacy by the community, the General Assembly decided to "Keep the Door Open" (KTDO) by maintaining the full $8 million in State general funds for community behavioral health services. 

In addition, we are proud to report that several key pieces of legislation that support behavioral health passed, including legislation to support: 

• Behavioral Health Crisis Response Systems
• Certified Peer Recovery Specialists
• Public Safety and Violence Prevention