Governor Wes Moore signed four key mental health bills into law this week
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Wes Moore on Tuesday signed four major mental health bills into law, an important step for ongoing bipartisan efforts to increase access to care, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and improve protections for patients and families across the state.
These four new measures will:
- Enhance access to integrated behavioral healthcare statewide by requiring coverage for the Collaborative Care Model and directing a study on eliminating cost-sharing. Learn more about SB428/HB746.
- Improve student access to school psychological services by authorizing Maryland to join the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact, a multistate agreement that enables licensed school psychologists to practice across member states through streamlined licensure. Learn more about SB238/HB340.
- Require routine mental health screenings during the perinatal period and strengthen referral pathways to care, helping ensure patients are identified early and connected to appropriate mental health treatment and support services. Learn more about SB891/HB1118.
- Improve patients’ continuity of care when their provider is no longer in their insurance network by enhancing notification requirements, transitional care provisions, and special enrollment rights for health insurance enrollees affected by material changes to provider networks. Learn more about SB521/HB684.
Together, these measures build on Maryland’s ongoing efforts to strengthen access to mental healthcare and address longstanding barriers that make it harder for people to get the care they need.
“These bills address critical gaps in care by expanding access to integrated behavioral health services, strengthening the mental health workforce, supporting maternal mental health, and helping protect continuity of care for patients,” said David Lloyd, Chief Policy Officer at Inseparable.
Inseparable thanks Governor Moore for signing these bills into law and to recognize the legislative sponsors and champions who led these efforts throughout the session, including Senator Malcolm Augustine, Senator Dawn Gile, Delegate Heather Bagnall, Delegate Bernice Mireku-North, and Delegate Jennifer White Holland–as well as the countless other lawmakers and advocates who helped to advance these important mental health policies.
About Inseparable
Inseparable is a national mental health advocacy organization founded on the principle that mental health is inseparable from physical health. Inseparable drives transformative change at the federal and state levels by engaging bipartisan policymakers, mobilizing support, and advancing mental health and substance use disorder policies that help people thrive. Inseparable works to expand access to care, promote youth mental health, improve crisis response, and strengthen the mental health workforce.