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HB 743

Public Health - Health Care Quality Fund for Community-Based Behavioral Health Programs - Establishment

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Heather Bagnall Tudball

HB 743 would create a Maryland Health Care Quality Fund to finance community-based behavioral health programs addressing mental health and addiction treatment gaps.

Withdrawn by Sponsor
0
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Bill Summary · HB 743

Legislative bill overview

HB 743 would establish a Health Care Quality Fund in Maryland dedicated to supporting community-based behavioral health programs. The bill aimed to create dedicated state funding specifically for mental health and substance use disorder services delivered through community organizations rather than traditional hospital or clinical settings.

Why is this important

Community-based behavioral health programs often serve vulnerable populations—including uninsured and underinsured individuals—that might otherwise lack access to mental health and addiction treatment. Dedicated funding could expand capacity and improve outcomes for conditions like depression, anxiety, and opioid use disorder in underserved areas.

Potential points of contention

  • Budget allocation: Establishing a new dedicated fund requires identifying revenue sources; fiscal concerns may have prompted withdrawal
  • Program definition: Questions about which organizations qualify as "community-based" and oversight mechanisms for fund distribution
  • Scope of services: Disagreement over whether funding should prioritize certain behavioral health areas (mental illness vs. substance use) or serve all equally

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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