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Read. Follow. Verify.Maryland Requires Health Plans and Medicaid to Cover Mobile Crisis and Crisis Stabilization Services
Last action · February 12, 2026: Hearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.Sponsor: Malcolm Augustine
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What This Bill Would Do
Beginning January 1, 2027, the , commercial insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations must provide insurance coverage for in-person mental health crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization services.
Residents enrolled in state Medicaid or commercial health benefit plans gain guaranteed insurance coverage for emergency in-person mental health crisis response starting in 2027.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Maryland Medical Assistance Program enrollees
Enrollees gain mandatory insurance coverage for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services starting January 1, 2027.
Insurers and nonprofit health service plans
Carriers must update health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or after January 1, 2027, to include coverage for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services.
Health maintenance organizations and managed care organizations
Organizations must provide coverage for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services under contracts issued or delivered in the State.
Key Facts
- Beginning January 1, 2027, the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and managed care organizations must provide coverage for mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services.
- Mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services are defined as immediate, in-person mental health crisis assessment, de-escalation, and stabilization.
- The requirements apply to all policies, contracts, and health benefit plans issued, delivered, or renewed in the State on or after January 1, 2027.
- Managed care organizations are subject to the same insurance article provisions regarding these services as other commercial carriers.
Show all 5 facts
- The Act takes effect January 1, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services are covered under this mandate?
When does this requirement take effect?
Which health plans and programs must provide this coverage?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently filed. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Feb 12, 2026SenateHearing 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.
- Feb 6, 2026SenateIntroducedFirst Reading Finance
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mandatory Emergency Mental Health Coverage
The legislation integrates mobile crisis and crisis stabilization services into standard health insurance and Medicaid benefit requirements starting in 2027.
Connected Entities
Sources
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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