Maryland Senate Bill SB0738

Maryland 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/26
• Refer: 2/6/26

Caption

Maryland Medical Assistance Program and Health Insurance - Required Coverage - Mobile Crisis and Crisis Stabilization

Summary

SB 738 requires the Maryland Medical Assistance Program (Medicaid) and certain private health coverage arrangements to cover mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services beginning January 1, 2027. The bill defines those services as immediate, in-person mental health crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization. It adds a new Insurance Article section requiring insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations to provide this coverage, and it also makes that insurance requirement applicable to managed care organizations under the Health-General Article. The bill also amends the Medicaid statute so that the Maryland Medical Assistance Program must provide the same coverage for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services. The coverage mandate applies to policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in Maryland on or after January 1, 2027. In effect, SB 738 expands both public and private coverage obligations for behavioral health crisis response services and aligns Medicaid and commercial coverage standards.

Impact

SB 738 would add a new mandated benefit in Maryland insurance law and a corresponding Medicaid coverage requirement. It would amend the Health-General Article to apply the new insurance coverage rule to managed care organizations and to require the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to cover mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services. The bill would affect insurers, nonprofit health service plans, HMOs, MCOs, Medicaid enrollees, and providers of crisis mental health services by requiring payment coverage for these services statewide.

Sentiment

Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a behavioral health access expansion with no recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials. The bill’s structure and effective date suggest a policy effort to standardize coverage for crisis mental health services across Medicaid and private insurance. Because no transcripts or vote history are included, there is no documented opposition or support to characterize beyond the bill’s apparent public-health orientation.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the creation of a new mandated benefit for private carriers and Medicaid, which can raise concerns about cost, utilization, and administrative implementation. Insurers, HMOs, and managed care organizations would bear the coverage obligation, while supporters would likely emphasize improved access to immediate mental health crisis intervention and stabilization. No specific objections, amendments, or stakeholder positions are provided in the available record.