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Advocates and MDH press for secured 988 telecom fee to sustain crisis centers
Summary
Advocates and the Maryland Department of Health urged the subcommittee to authorize spending from the new telephone/telecom fee and preserve funding for 988 call centers and mobile crisis services; MDH indicated the Comptroller estimates the fee will generate revenue and that funds will appear in the supplemental budget.
Advocates and Maryland Department of Health officials urged the Health and Social Services Subcommittee to authorize and protect funding for the 988 crisis line and related mobile crisis services, saying sustained funding is necessary to preserve call center capacity, trained counselors and 24/7 response coverage.
DLS noted that the fiscal 2025 Board of Public Works cost‑containment measures reduced $9,000,000 of the $12,000,000 appropriated from the 988 trust fund; the BRFAA contains a provision that would eliminate the $12,000,000 mandate for the 988 trust fund in fiscal 2025 and also includes competing contingent language affecting the general fund appropriation. DLS reported comptroller estimates of telephone fee revenue at $13,500,000 in fiscal 2025 and $20,670,000 in fiscal 2026. MDH told the subcommittee it anticipates backfilling general fund support for 988 with special funds from the telephone fee and that those special funds will support six call centers and related management activities.
Advocates from Community Behavioral Health Association, On Our Own, EveryMind, Behavioral Health System Baltimore, and provider organizations told the subcommittee the 988 line and mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) are already diverting people from emergency departments and law enforcement, deescalating crises, and saving lives. Speakers provided concrete examples: a mobile team de‑escalated a case that initially involved law enforcement and allowed a young person to return home safely; peer centers and call centers reported thousands of contacts and increasing demand, including calls about minors.
MDH and the deputy secretary confirmed the department expects the telecom fee revenue to be available in the supplemental budget and urged the subcommittee to authorize expenditure of the fee revenue for 988 operations. Several advocates also asked the subcommittee to preserve a $5,000,000 behavioral health crisis response grant program and a 1% provider rate increase to help stabilize workforce capacity for crisis services.
No formal appropriations action was taken during the hearing; the subcommittee was told the telecom fee revenue will be in the supplemental budget.
