Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition

The Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition brings together 100+ mental health and substance use disorder organizations that represent consumers, advocates, family members, service providers, and behavioral health professionals. We are united in our mission to ensure that Marylanders have access to quality behavioral health services when and where needed.

Since its inception in 1993, the Coalition has achieved numerous legislative and policy victories in behavioral health. These include the passage of the Maryland Mental Health Parity Law, the establishment of an integrated, performance-based public behavioral health system, and the protection and expansion of funding for mental health and substance use disorder services.

Check out the current Behavioral Health Coalition’s advocacy campaign and get more involved at our Equal Treatment Maryland website.

Read the coalition’s 2023 policy agenda

COVID-19 Response

The Behavioral Health Coalition has been working overtime throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure access to care and to prevent a disruption of critical behavioral health services during the public health emergency. The group has advocated for increased flexibility in the delivery of treatment via telehealth, worked to address concerns about the short- and long-term viability of Maryland’s community behavioral health provider network, encouraged action to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on Marylanders living and working in congregate settings, and fought to protect funding for critical mental health and substance use programs and services.

• Read the Coalition’s Letter to Maryland’s Congressional Delegation on Funding and Telehealth Services (June 25, 2020)
• Read the Coalition’s Letter to Governor Hogan on Funding for the Behavioral Health Administration (May 21, 2020)
• Read the Joint Letter to Governor Hogan on Funding for Community Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Senior Care Services (May 14, 2020)
• Read the Coalition’s Recommendations to Prevent and Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in Congregate Settings (April 14, 2020)
• Read the Coalition’s Letter Regarding the Viability of Maryland’s Community Provider Network (April 2, 2020)

To join the Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition, or for more information, please contact:

Dan Martin
Senior Director of Public Policy
443-901-1550, ext. 208
dmartin@mhamd.org