Despite a $1.5 billion structural budget deficit, the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition fought successfully during the 2026 state legislative session to preserve and expand mental health and substance use funding, services, and protections.
The collective effort secured resources necessary to minimize the negative impact of federal Medicaid reforms, preserved $100 million annually for school behavioral health care in jurisdictions across the state, ensured the continued development of Maryland’s CCBHC program and established a process to modernize community provider reimbursement, expanded access to primary behavioral health care by requiring insurance companies to cover the Collaborative Care Model, safeguarded Marylanders from any rollback of federal parity protections, and strengthened the workforce by supporting efforts to improve the timely and effective licensing of behavioral health professionals and paraprofessionals.
The Coalition’s 2026 campaign yielded many positive results, but the work is far from finished. Maryland’s budget deficit is expected to reach $3 billion next year, leaving public behavioral health care vulnerable to funding cuts and threatening the sustainability of critical community programs that have already gone two years without an inflationary increase. A persistent behavioral health workforce shortage threatens our ability to meet a growing demand for care. Commercially insured Marylanders still struggle to access in-network mental health and substance use care when needed. And the impending election will require a concerted effort to educate new lawmakers unfamiliar with these critical policy issues.
The Coalition is positioned well to tackle these challenges in the year ahead, but continued success requires sustained collaboration, strong advocacy, and consistent messaging.
Now is the time to join the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition or renew your membership. The membership fee for Fiscal Year 2027 is $500. Organizations that can contribute more are encouraged to do so.
Dues from our member organizations cover basic administrative costs and demonstrate to our funders that you value the Coalition’s work. Whether you are a current member or have participated in a recent Coalition initiative, we need your help. Please join as a member in FY27 using the membership form below. In addition to specifying a primary contact for your organization, member organizations may arrange for additional representatives to receive Coalition mailings.