The Legislature Forgot Mental Health Again

In passing legislation to raise Maryland’s minimum wage, the General Assembly included a provision to increase reimbursement for community-based developmental disabilities providers 3.5% each year for four years starting July 1, 2015. The intent is to ensure that these providers are able to pay competitive salaries to the direct care workers who support vulnerable Marylanders in community settings.

This action addresses a legitimate need and no one should begrudge it. However, it does nothing for the direct care workers who serve equally vulnerable citizens, those with psychiatric disabilities.

On behalf of community mental health providers who serve 150,000 children and adults across the state, our organization began working several months ago with legislative leaders and developmental disabilities stakeholders to include mental health in legislation dealing with the impact of a higher minimum wage on the ability of community providers in both fields to recruit and retain qualified staff. Only developmental disabilities programs made the final cut.

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