HHS committee funds Montgomery Cares rate increase, advances shelter and infrastructure funding; clinic addition deferred

HHS committee members on the Montgomery County Council on April 21 approved several of the County Executive's recommended FY26 changes to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) budget and capital improvement program while deferring a proposed new clinic addition for further review.

The committee voted to fully fund the County Executive's proposed increase to the Montgomery Cares primary care reimbursement rate, approve funds for the county's domestic violence services and to annualize infrastructure and other DHHS positions. Committee members also approved CIP amendments to advance funding for the diversion center project and accepted an FY25 supplemental appropriation related to the diversion center stabilization unit expansion. A separate proposal to add a new clinic to the Montgomery Cares network was deferred for additional information and discussion at the HHS work session scheduled April 28.

Why it matters: Montgomery Cares is the county's safety-net primary care network for uninsured and underinsured residents; changes to the per-encounter reimbursement rate directly affect clinic finances, staffing and capacity. The diversion center capital changes and domestic violence shelter funding address immediate facility and shelter needs countywide and have implications for service continuity and state grant compliance.

The committee approved funding to raise the Montgomery Cares reimbursement rate consistent with the County Executive's recommendation, an item staff said represents $963,361 in FY26 funding and…