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Eastern Shore providers warn of behavioral‑health workforce collapse and ask delegation to sustain funding
Summary
The Eastern Shore Behavioral Health Coalition and local providers told the delegation on March 6 that flat state budgets, regulatory delays and staffing shortages threaten services. Presenters urged a 3% rate increase, support for CCBHCs and school‑based mental‑health funding, and asked delegates to back two bills to ease program expansion and intern reimbursement.
Representatives of the Eastern Shore Behavioral Health Coalition told the delegation on March 6 that behavioral‑health providers across the region face a workforce crisis and steep fiscal pressure, and they asked legislators to protect and increase funding.
Katie, speaking for the coalition, said providers need predictable reimbursement and regulatory efficiencies to sustain operations. "We are hoping for a 3%, but certainly I think if anything, we want to sustain what we have," she said, urging delegates to remember rural cost structures and travel distances when evaluating fee‑for‑service proposals.
Speakers detailed specific programs and figures. Jessica Toole…
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