Good News on Maryland's Mental Health Budget

[News Hound]

Good News on Maryland's Mental Health Budget

Good News on Maryland's Mental Health Budget!

Great news!* Thanks to all of your calls and emails and to the hard work of the entire Mental Health Coalition, the Governor's funding cuts for mental health services have been restored through*the Governor's supplemental budget for mental health.

*Here is a short summary from one of the Mental Health Coalition partners, CBH:

*The Governor's first supplemental budget came out this morning and he included $5 million general funds and $5 million federal funds "to enhance rates for Mental Health Community Providers."We don't believe this wipes out the entire 2.5% rate cut but instead means that we'll end up with no rate cut but no rate increase for FY12, i.e. rates will stay the same (we have to verify this). This is still better than other community services that will see a 1% rate cut.

*The supplemental includes an additional $25 million for the Mental Hygiene Administration which appears to be a deficiency appropriation to cover the FY10 carry-over deficit caused by enrollment far exceeding budget capacity. This is also good news because it takes some of the pressure off MHA to make more cuts.

Meanwhile, we await word from the budget conference committee about the legislative cuts.

*Again, thank you for all of your calls and emails.**You made*a difference.

Sincerely,

NAMI Maryland
*www.namimaryland.org
10630 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Suite 475
Columbia, MD 21044
410.884.8691- Office
410.884.8695- Fax

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