The MD 988 Campaign reported advocates’ call to restore proposed FY2026 cuts to Maryland mental health, substance use, and crisis services.
Advocates raise concerns over proposed budget cuts
According to the MD 988 Campaign, Governor Wes Moore’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget included major cuts to Maryland mental health and substance use care programs. The campaign reported that behavioral health advocates held a February 25, 2025 press conference urging the Maryland General Assembly and the governor to restore the proposed reductions.
The advocates cited more than $116 million in proposed cuts affecting mental health and substance use care. According to the MD 988 Campaign, they said funding for community providers needed protection so comprehensive behavioral health services could remain available statewide.
Services identified as at risk
The MD 988 Campaign reported that advocates warned key programs could face drastic reductions unless the General Assembly acted quickly. The programs identified included Maryland’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline helpline and behavioral health care for children and youth.
According to the post, the advocates said potential reductions could affect services across the continuum of care, including screening, early intervention, treatment, recovery supports, and crisis services. They also warned that service reductions could send more people to hospital emergency departments for care.
The campaign noted that Maryland emergency departments already had the highest average wait times in the country. The post did not describe specific changes to individual providers or services.
Focus on 988 funding
The advocates specifically asked lawmakers to restore funding for Maryland’s 988 helpline and crisis services, according to the MD 988 Campaign. The campaign said the General Assembly had approved a 25-cent charge on phone lines in 2024 to support the helpline.
However, the advocates said the governor’s proposed budget did not allocate those revenues as intended. According to the MD 988 Campaign, they warned this could jeopardize the continued operation of the 988 call system.
A related Maryland Behavioral Health Coalition/MHAMD 2025 session summary later reported that the General Assembly’s final FY2026 budget action provided $20 million in FY25 and $24 million in FY26 to fully fund Maryland 988, following the advocacy campaign.
What this means for Maryland patients
This item concerns proposed state funding decisions that could affect the availability of crisis, mental health, and substance use services locally. The directory lists 100 published clinics in Maryland, which may help people identify local treatment options.
This is general information, not medical advice.
More Maryland reporting on policy & funding.
This report is educational and is not medical advice. Coverage, availability and eligibility can change; verify details with the named source or your care team.