Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB517 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0517
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 517
8	8	J1, J5 2lr1706
9	9	CF SB 460
10	10	By: Delegate R. Lewis
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 21, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Health and Government Operations
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Consumer Health Access Program for Mental Health and Addiction Care – 2
19	19	Establishment 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of establishing the Consumer Health Access Program for Mental Health 4
22	22	and Addiction Care to assist State residents in accessing mental health and 5
23	23	substance use disorder services under public and private health insurance and 6
24	24	address insurance–related barriers to mental health and substance use disorder 7
25	25	services; establishing certain requirements on the Program relating to consumer 8
26	26	medical records and other information; establishing the Consumer Health Access 9
27	27	Program for Mental Health and Addiction Care Fund as a special, nonlapsing fund; 10
28	28	requiring interest earnings of the Fund to be credited to the Fund; and generally 11
29	29	relating to the Consumer Health Access Program for Mental Health and Addiction 12
30	30	Care. 13
31	31
32	32	BY adding to 14
33	33	Article – Health – General 15
34	34	Section 13–4401 through 13–4409 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 44. 16
35	35	Consumer Health Access Program for Mental Health and Addiction Care” 17
36	36	Annotated Code of Maryland 18
37	37	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 19
38	38
39	39	BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 20
40	40	Article – State Finance and Procurement 21
41	41	Section 6–226(a)(2)(i) 22
42	42	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
43	43	(2021 Replacement Volume) 24
44	44
45	45	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 25
46	46	Article – State Finance and Procurement 26
47	47	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)144. and 145. 27
48	48	Annotated Code of Maryland 28 2 HOUSE BILL 517
49	49
50	50
51	51	(2021 Replacement Volume) 1
52	52
53	53	BY adding to 2
54	54	Article – State Finance and Procurement 3
55	55	Section 6–226(a)(2)(ii)146. 4
56	56	Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57	57	(2021 Replacement Volume) 6
58	58
59	59	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
60	60	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 8
61	61
62	62	Article – Health – General 9
63	63
64	64	SUBTITLE 44. CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND 10
65	65	ADDICTION CARE. 11
66	66
67	67	13–4401. 12
68	68
69	69	(A) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 13
70	70	INDICATED. 14
71	71
72	72	(B) “CONNECTOR ENTITY REGI ONS” MEANS THE EIGHT GEOG RAPHICAL 15
73	73	REGIONS IN MARYLAND THAT HAVE BE EN DESIGNATED BY THE MARYLAND HEALTH 16
74	74	BENEFIT EXCHANGE FOR PURPOSES OF INSURANCE –RELATED OUTREACH , 17
75	75	EDUCATION, AND ENROLLMENT UNDER THE PATIENT PROTECTION AND 18
76	76	AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. 19
77	77
78	78	(C) “FUND” MEANS THE CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR 20
79	79	MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION CARE FUND. 21
80	80
81	81	(D) “HEALTH PLAN” MEANS HEALTH INSURANCE C OVERAGE FOR MENTAL 22
82	82	HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER BENEFIT S OFFERED BY ANY PAY ER OF 23
83	83	HEALTH CARE SERVICES , INCLUDING STATE–REGULATED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP 24
84	84	PLANS, FULLY INSURED AND SE LF–INSURED EMPLOYER –SPONSORED PLANS , THE 25
85	85	STATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS PROGRAM, THE MARYLAND 26
86	86	MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, THE MARYLAND CHILDREN’S HEALTH 27
87	87	PROGRAM, MEDICARE, TRICARE, AND VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HEALTH 28
88	88	BENEFITS. 29
89	89
90	90	(E) “HUB ENTITY” MEANS THE PRIVATE , COMMUNITY –BASED, NONPROFIT 30
91	91	CORPORATION OR ORGANIZATIO N WITH OFFICES LOCAT ED IN THE STATE OR A 31
92	92	PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE STATE SELECTED BY THE INCUBATOR ENTITY AND 32
93	93	RESPONSIBLE FOR OPER ATING THE PROGRAM. 33
94	94	HOUSE BILL 517 3
95	95
96	96
97	97	(F) “INCUBATOR ENTITY ” MEANS THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND 1
98	98	BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK CENTER FOR ADDICTION RESEARCH, 2
99	99	EDUCATION, AND SERVICES. 3
100	100
101	101	(G) “MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT” OR “PARITY 4
102	102	ACT” MEANS THE PAUL WELLSTONE AND PETE DOMENICI MENTAL HEALTH 5
103	103	PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2008 AND IMPLEMENTING REG ULATIONS 6
104	104	45 C.F.R. § 146.136 AND 29 C.F.R. § 2590.712. 7
105	105
106	106	(H) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR 8
107	107	MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION CARE. 9
108	108
109	109	(I) “PROVIDER” MEANS: 10
110	110
111	111	(1) A LICENSED OR CERTIFIE D PRACTITIONER WHOSE SCOPE OF 11
112	112	PRACTICE INCLUDES TH E PROVISION OF MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE 12
113	113	DISORDER TREATMENT ; 13
114	114
115	115	(2) A FACILITY LICENSED TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALT H OR 14
116	116	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER TREATMENT ; OR 15
117	117
118	118	(3) A CERTIFIED PEER COUNS ELOR WHO PROVIDES SU PPORT 16
119	119	SERVICES TO PATIENTS WITH MENTAL HEALTH O R SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS . 17
120	120
121	121	(J) “SPECIALTY ENTITY ” MEANS A PRIVATE , COMMUNITY –BASED, 18
122	122	NONPROFIT CORPORATIO N OR ORGANIZATION WI TH OFFICES LOCATED I N THE 19
123	123	STATE THAT ENTERS INT O A CONTRACT WITH TH E HUB ENTITY TO ASSI ST IN THE 20
124	124	DELIVERY OF CONSUMER ASSISTANCE SERVICES . 21
125	125
126	126	(K) “SPOKE ENTITY ” MEANS THE PRIVATE , COMMUNITY –BASED, 22
127	127	NONPROFIT CORPORATIO N OR ORGANIZATION WI TH OFFICES LOCATED I N THE 23
128	128	STATE THAT ENTERS INT O A CONTRACT WITH TH E HUB ENTITY TO PROV IDE 24
129	129	CONSUMER ASSISTANCE SERVICES IN ONE OF T HE EIGHT CONNECTOR E NTITY 25
130	130	REGIONS. 26
131	131
132	132	13–4402. 27
133	133
134	134	(A) THERE IS A CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR MENTAL 28
135	135	HEALTH AND ADDICTION CARE. 29
136	136
137	137	(B) THE PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO : 30
138	138	4 HOUSE BILL 517
139	139
140	140
141	141	(1) ASSIST STATE RESIDENTS IN AC CESSING MENTAL HEALT H AND 1
142	142	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES UNDER PU BLIC AND PR IVATE HEALTH 2
143	143	INSURANCE; AND 3
144	144
145	145	(2) ADDRESS INSURANCE –RELATED BARRIERS TO MENTAL HEALTH 4
146	146	AND SUBSTANCE USE DI SORDER SERVICES THRO UGH CONSUMER OUTREAC H AND 5
147	147	EDUCATION, CLIENT ASSISTANCE AN D REPRESENTATION , DATA COLLECTION AND 6
148	148	ANALYSIS, AND RESOLUTION OF SYSTEM–WIDE BARRIERS . 7
149	149
150	150	(C) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE ADMI NISTERED BY THE INCU BATOR ENTITY 8
151	151	AND A HUB ENTITY SEL ECTED BY THE INCUBAT OR ENTITY. 9
152	152
153	153	13–4403. 10
154	154
155	155	(A) THERE IS A CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR MENTAL 11
156	156	HEALTH AND ADDICTION CARE FUND. 12
157	157
158	158	(B) THE PURPOSE OF THE FUND IS TO PROVIDE FU NDING TO THE 13
159	159	INCUBATOR ENTITY , HUB ENTITY, AND SPOKE AND SPECIA LTY ENTITIES TO CARR Y 14
160	160	OUT THE RESPONSIBILI TIES OF THE PROGRAM. 15
161	161
162	162	(C) THE INCUBATOR ENTITY AND THE HUB ENTITY S ELECTED BY THE 16
163	163	INCUBATOR ENTITY SHA LL ADMINISTER THE FUND. 17
164	164
165	165	(D) (1) THE FUND IS A SPECIAL , NONLAPSING FUND THAT IS NOT 18
166	166	SUBJECT TO § 7–302 OF THE STATE FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT ARTICLE. 19
167	167
168	168	(2) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL HOLD THE FUND SEPARATELY , 20
169	169	AND THE COMPTROLLER SHALL ACC OUNT FOR THE FUND. 21
170	170
171	171	(E) THE FUND CONSISTS OF : 22
172	172
173	173	(1) MONEY APPROPRIATED IN THE STATE BUDGET TO THE FUND; 23
174	174
175	175	(2) INTEREST EARNINGS CRE DITED TO THE FUND UNDER 24
176	176	SUBSECTION (F)(2) OF THIS SECTION; AND 25
177	177
178	178	(3) ANY OTHER MONEY FROM ANY OTHER SOURCE ACC EPTED FOR 26
179	179	THE BENEFIT OF THE FUND. 27
180	180
181	181	(F) (1) THE STATE TREASURER SHALL INVES T THE MONEY OF THE FUND 28
182	182	IN THE SAME MANNER A S OTHER STATE MONEY MAY BE IN VESTED. 29
183	183	HOUSE BILL 517 5
184	184
185	185
186	186	(2) ANY INTEREST EARNINGS OF THE FUND SHALL BE CREDITE D TO 1
187	187	THE FUND. 2
188	188
189	189	(G) EXPENDITURES FROM THE FUND MAY BE MADE ONLY IN ACCORDANCE 3
190	190	WITH THE STATE BUDGET . 4
191	191
192	192	(H) MONEY EXPENDED FROM T HE FUND FOR THE PROGRAM IS 5
193	193	SUPPLEMENTAL TO AND IS NOT INTENDED TO T AKE THE PLACE OF FUN DING THAT 6
194	194	OTHERWISE WOULD BE A PPROPRIATED FOR THE PROGRAM. 7
195	195
196	196	13–4404. 8
197	197
198	198	CONTINGENT ON THE REC EIPT OF STATE FUNDING FOR THE PROGRAM, THE 9
199	199	INCUBATOR ENTITY SHA LL IMPLEMENT THE PROGRAM BY: 10
200	200
201	201	(1) ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2023, CONDUCTING AND COMPL ETING AN 11
202	202	APPLICATION PROCESS TO SELECT A HUB ENTI TY FOR THE PROGRAM THAT MEETS 12
203	203	CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE INCUBATOR ENT ITY THAT SHALL INCLUDE THAT 13
204	204	THE HUB ENTITY HAVE : 14
205	205
206	206	(I) A PUBLIC INTEREST MISS ION; 15
207	207
208	208	(II) QUALIFIED STAFF WHO R EPRESENT THE RACIAL , ETHNIC, 16
209	209	AND GENDER DIVERSITY OF RESIDENTS OF THE STATE AND INCLUDE IND IVIDUALS 17
210	210	WITH PERSONAL EXPERI ENCE IN ACCESSING TR EATMENT FOR MENTA L HEALTH AND 18
211	211	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ERS; 19
212	212
213	213	(III) ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERT ISE OR DEMONSTRATED 20
214	214	CAPACITY TO DEVELOP EXPERTISE IN: 21
215	215
216	216	1. MENTAL HEALTH AND SUB STANCE USE DISORDER 22
217	217	SERVICES; 23
218	218
219	219	2. INSURANCE COVERAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND 24
220	220	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES; 25
221	221
222	222	3. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND E DUCATION ON INSURANC E 26
223	223	COVERAGE AND SUBSTAN CE USE DISORDER TREA TMENT; 27
224	224
225	225	4. CLIENT ASSISTANCE AND REPRESENTATION TO 28
226	226	RESOLVE INSURANCE DI SPUTES; 29
227	227	6 HOUSE BILL 517
228	228
229	229
230	230	5. THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION 1
231	231	EQUITY ACT STANDARDS ; AND 2
232	232
233	233	6. DATA GATHERING AND AN ALYSIS; 3
234	234
235	235	(IV) NO DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE LICENSING , 4
236	236	CERTIFICATION , OR ACCREDITATION OF A MENTAL HEALTH OR S UBSTANCE USE 5
237	237	DISORDER FACILITY OR A HEALTH PLAN ; 6
238	238
239	239	(V) NO DIRECT OWNERSHIP O R INVESTMENT IN A ME NTAL 7
240	240	HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE DISO RDER FACILITY OR HEA LTH PLAN; 8
241	241
242	242	(VI) NO PARTICIPATION IN T HE MANAGEMENT OF A M ENTAL 9
243	243	HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FACILIT Y OR HEALTH PLAN ; 10
244	244
245	245	(VII) NO AGREEMENT OR ARRAN GEMENT WITH AN OWNER OR 11
246	246	OPERATOR OF A MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTA NCE USE DISORDER FAC ILITY OR A 12
247	247	HEALTH PLAN THAT COU LD DIRECTLY OR INDIR ECTLY RESULT IN REMU NERATION, 13
248	248	IN CASH OR IN KIND, TO THE ENTITY; AND 14
249	249
250	250	(VIII) A POLICY THAT ADDRESSE S ANY POTENTIAL CONF LICT OF 15
251	251	INTEREST RELATED TO THE DELIVERY OF PROGRAM SERVICES AN D THE DELIVERY 16
252	252	OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES; 17
253	253
254	254	(2) ASSISTING THE HUB ENT ITY IN SELECTING AND ENTERING INTO 18
255	255	AN AGREEMENT TO DELI VER CONSUMER ASSISTA NCE SERVICES WITH ON E SPOKE 19
256	256	ENTITY IN EACH OF TH E EIGHT CONNECTOR EN TITY REGIONS THA T MEETS THE 20
257	257	CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE HUB ENTITY ; 21
258	258
259	259	(3) ASSISTING THE HUB ENT ITY IN SELECTING AND ENTERING INTO 22
260	260	AGREEMENTS TO DELIVE R CONSUMER ASSISTANC E SERVICES WITH ONE OR MORE 23
261	261	SPECIALTY ENTITIES , AS NEEDED, THAT MEET THE CRITER IA ESTABLISHED BY TH E 24
262	262	HUB ENTITY; AND 25
263	263
264	264	(4) OFFERING TECHNICAL AS SISTANCE TO THE HUB ENTITY UNDER 26
265	265	AN AGREEMENT FOR A 3–YEAR PILOT PERIOD . 27
266	266
267	267	13–4405. 28
268	268
269	269	(A) THE PROGRAM SHALL BE COMP OSED OF THE HUB ENTI TY, EIGHT SPOKE 29
270	270	ENTITIES, A SPECIALTY ENTITY , AS NEEDED, AND VOLUNTEERS WITH APPROPRIATE 30
271	271	TRAINING AND SUPERVI SION TO ASSIST WITH PROGRAM ACTIVITIES . 31
272	272	HOUSE BILL 517 7
273	273
274	274
275	275	(B) THE PROGRAM SHALL OPERATE A 3–YEAR PILOT PROGRAM T O HELP 1
276	276	CONSUMERS , INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL S WHO ARE UNINSURED OR HAVE PRIVATE OR 2
277	277	PUBLIC HEALTH PLANS , AND PROVIDERS NAVIGA TE AND RESOLVE ISSUES RELATED 3
278	278	TO: 4
279	279
280	280	(1) HEALTH PLAN ENROLLMEN T AND COVERAGE ; 5
281	281
282	282	(2) CONSUMER ACCESS TO ME NTAL HEALTH AND SUBS TANCE USE 6
283	283	DISORDER SERVICES ; AND 7
284	284
285	285	(3) ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY 8
286	286	AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT AND STATE AND FEDERAL INSURANCE LAWS . 9
287	287
288	288	(C) WITHIN 1 YEAR AFTER THE RECEI PT OF STATE FUNDING FOR THE 10
289	289	PROGRAM, THE PROGRAM SHALL : 11
290	290
291	291	(1) CONDUCT IN–PERSON AND OTHER OUT REACH AND EDUCATION 12
292	292	FOR RESIDENTS OF THE STATE TO IMPROVE HEAL TH LITERACY REGARDIN G: 13
293	293
294	294	(I) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER HEALTH 14
295	295	BENEFIT COVERAGE AND AVAILABLE SERVICES ; 15
296	296
297	297	(II) ENROLLMENT IN HEALTH PLANS; 16
298	298
299	299	(III) ACCESS TO MENTAL HEAL TH AND SUBSTANCE USE 17
300	300	DISORDER TREATMENT ; AND 18
301	301
302	302	(IV) RIGHTS UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND 19
303	303	ADDICTION EQUITY ACT; 20
304	304
305	305	(2) ESTABLISH AND OPERATE A TOLL–FREE HELPLINE AND AN 21
306	306	ON–LINE ASSISTANCE PORT AL TO ALLOW CONSUMER S, PROVIDERS WHO ARE 22
307	307	ACTING ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS , AND INDIVIDUALS WITH IN THE STATE’S 23
308	308	BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CR ISIS RESPONSE SYSTEM ACCESS TO THE SERVIC ES OF THE 24
309	309	PROGRAM; 25
310	310
311	311	(3) ASSIST CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS WHO ARE ACTING ON 26
312	312	BEHALF OF CONSUMERS IN RESOLVING ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH PL AN 27
313	313	ENROLLMENT AND SERVI CE COVERAGE AND ACCE SS BY WORKING WITH 28
314	314	APPROPRIATE REGULATO RY AGENCIES AND HEAL TH PLAN REPRESENTATI VES; 29
315	315
316	316	(4) ASSIST AND REPRESENT CONSUMERS IN THE FIL ING OF 30
317	317	COMPLAINTS, GRIEVANCES, AND APPEALS, INCLUDING: 31 8 HOUSE BILL 517
318	318
319	319
320	320
321	321	(I) COMPLAINTS THROUGH TH E INTERNAL GRIEVANCE AND 1
322	322	EXTERNAL REVIEW PROC ESS UNDER TITLE 15, SUBTITLE 10A OF THE INSURANCE 2
323	323	ARTICLE; 3
324	324
325	325	(II) APPEALS OF COVERAGE D ECISIONS UNDER TITLE 15, 4
326	326	SUBTITLE 10D OF THE INSURANCE ARTICLE; 5
327	327
328	328	(III) EMPLOYER–SPONSORED PLAN INTER NAL AND EXTERNAL 6
329	329	APPEAL PROCEDURES ; 7
330	330
331	331	(IV) MEDICAID FAIR HEARING S; AND 8
332	332
333	333	(V) MEDICARE APPEALS ; 9
334	334
335	335	(5) AS APPROPRIATE , WORK JOINTLY WITH STATE AGENCIES , 10
336	336	INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT , THE MARYLAND INSURANCE ADMINISTRATION , 11
337	337	AND THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE TO PROMOTE G REATER ACCESS 12
338	338	TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES AND RESO LUTION 13
339	339	OF CONSUMER COMPLAIN TS; 14
340	340
341	341	(6) ENTER INTO A MEMORAND UM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE 15
342	342	HEALTH EDUCATION A ND ADVOCACY UNIT OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY 16
343	343	GENERAL TO COORDINATE CONSUMER ASSISTANCE SERVICES AND ENSURE 17
344	344	EFFECTIVE AND NONDUP LICATIVE ASSISTANCE IN ADDRESSING HEALTH PLAN 18
345	345	COMPLAINTS AND APPEA LS RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE 19
346	346	DISORDER SERVIC ES; 20
347	347
348	348	(7) COLLECT AND ANALYZE D ATA ON ALL SERVICES PROVIDED BY 21
349	349	THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING DE –IDENTIFIED DEMOGRAPH IC INFORMATION ABOUT 22
350	350	CONSUMERS WHO SOUGHT AND RECEIVED ASSISTA NCE, THE TYPES OF SERVICE S 23
351	351	PROVIDED, AND OUTCOMES OF THE ASSISTANCE PROVIDED ; 24
352	352
353	353	(8) (I) IDENTIFY TRENDS AND G APS IN COVERAGE OF A ND ACCESS 25
354	354	TO MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES; 26
355	355
356	356	(II) IDENTIFY TRENDS IN VI OLATIONS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH 27
357	357	PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT; AND 28
358	358
359	359	(III) RECOMMEND POLICIES AN D PRACTICES TO R ESOLVE 29
360	360	DEFICIENCIES IN COVE RAGE AND ACCESS TO S ERVICES; 30
361	361	HOUSE BILL 517 9
362	362
363	363
364	364	(9) MAKE DATA , TREND ANALYSES , AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1
365	365	AVAILABLE TO: 2
366	366
367	367	(I) MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ; 3
368	368
369	369	(II) GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ; 4
370	370
371	371	(III) THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL; 5
372	372
373	373	(IV) THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY; AND 6
374	374
375	375	(V) ANY OTHER ENTITY THAT THE PROGRAM DETERMINES 7
376	376	APPROPRIATE ; 8
377	377
378	378	(10) CONDUCT ADVOCACY WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN THE 9
379	379	STATE AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ADDRESS S YSTEMIC GAPS IN ACCE SS TO 10
380	380	MENTAL HEALTH AND SU BSTANCE USE DISORDER SERVICES AND VIOLATIONS OF 11
381	381	THE MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT; AND 12
382	382
383	383	(11) ISSUE AN ANNUAL REPOR T THAT INCLUDES : 13
384	384
385	385	(I) AN ACCOUNTING OF ALL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ; 14
386	386
387	387	(II) AN EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PROGRAM; 15
388	388
389	389	(III) A COMPLETE FISCAL AC COUNTING; 16
390	390
391	391	(IV) IDENTIFICATION OF INS URANCE GAPS AND ISSU ES 17
392	392	AFFECTING CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS ; AND 18
393	393
394	394	(V) RECOMMENDATIONS TO IM PROVE ACCESS TO MENT AL 19
395	395	HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATME NT AND ENFORCEMENT O F THE 20
396	396	MENTAL HEALTH PARITY AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT. 21
397	397
398	398	13–4406. 22
399	399
400	400	THE PROGRAM SHALL PROMOTE EQUITY IN ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND 23
401	401	SUBSTANCE USE DISORD ER SERVICES BY: 24
402	402
403	403	(1) ENSURING THAT ALL CON SUMER ASSISTANCE SER VICES INCLUDE 25
404	404	AND REPRESENT THE DI VERSITY OF THE POPUL ATION OF THE STATE WITH RESPECT 26
405	405	TO RACE, ETHNICITY, LANGUAGE, RELIGION, GENDER DIVERSITY , SEXUAL 27
406	406	ORIENTATION , SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS , AND DISABILITY STATU S; 28 10 HOUSE BILL 517
407	407
408	408
409	409
410	410	(2) ENTERING AGREEMENTS W ITH SPOKE AND SPECIA LTY ENTITIES 1
411	411	THAT ARE LED BY AND SERVE BLACK, HISPANIC, ASIAN, INDIGENOUS, DISABILITY, 2
412	412	AND GENDER DIVERSE C OMMUNITIES AND SEEKI NG INPUT FROM DIVERS E 3
413	413	COMMUNITIES IN CONSU MER ASSISTANCE SERVI CE DEVELOPMENT ; 4
414	414
415	415	(3) EMPLOYING INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENC E IN MENTAL 5
416	416	HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TREATME NT, INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL S 6
417	417	ENGAGED IN PEER SERV ICE DELIVERY; 7
418	418
419	419	(4) DELIVERING CULTURALLY COMPETENT SERVICES T HAT ARE 8
420	420	RESPONSIVE TO THE DI VERSE NEEDS OF RESID ENTS OF THE STATE AND PROVIDING 9
421	421	SERVICES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES ; 10
422	422
423	423	(5) PROMOTING ACCESS BY O FFERING SERVICES THR OUGH 11
424	424	MULTIPLE MODALITIES, INCLUDING IN –PERSON, TELEPHONE , AND INTERNET 12
425	425	SERVICES; AND 13
426	426
427	427	(6) COLLECTING AND ANALYZ ING DATA TO ADDRESS DISPARITIES IN 14
428	428	ACCESSING MENTAL HEA LTH AND SUBSTANCE US E DISORDER SERVICES BY RACE, 15
429	429	ETHNICITY, GENDER, AND GENDER IDENTITY . 16
430	430
431	431	13–4407. 17
432	432
433	433	(A) THE PROGRAM: 18
434	434
435	435	(1) MAY REQUEST , OBTAIN, AND USE THE MEDICAL OR OTHER 19
436	436	RECORDS OF A CONSUME R IN THE POSSESSION OF A HEALTH PLAN OR MENTAL 20
437	437	HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER PROVIDE R IF THE PROGRAM RECEIVES THE 21
438	438	APPROPRIATE CONSENT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL OR THE LEGAL REPRESENTATI VE 22
439	439	OF THE INDIVIDUAL ; 23
440	440
441	441	(2) SHALL USE AND DISCLOS E AN INDIVIDUAL ’S RECORDS IN 24
442	442	COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL CONFIDENTIALITY OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG 25
443	443	ABUSE PATIENT RECORDS REGULATION, 42 C.F.R. PART 2, THE HEALTH 26
444	444	INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT, 45 C.F.R. §§ 160 AND 164, 27
445	445	AND STATE HEALTH PRIVACY STANDARDS; AND 28
446	446
447	447	(3) MAY NOT DISCLOSE PERS ONAL IDENTIFYING INF ORMATION 29
448	448	ABOUT A CONSUMER IN ANY FORM OTHER THAN AGGREGATE DATA IN AN Y PUBLIC 30
449	449	DOCUMENT UNLESS THE INDIVIDUAL OR LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 31
450	450	INDIVIDUAL HAS PROVI DED THE APPROPRIATE CONSENT FOR RELEASE OF 32
451	451	INFORMATION . 33 HOUSE BILL 517 11
452	452
453	453
454	454
455	455	(B) THE PROGRAM SHALL REQUEST AND PROMPTLY RECEIVE , WITH 1
456	456	REASONABLE NOTICE , THE COOPERATION , ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION , AND 2
457	457	RECORDS FROM STATE AGENCIES AS NEC ESSARY TO ENABLE THE PROGRAM TO 3
458	458	INVESTIGATE A CONSUM ER’S COMPLAINT. 4
459	459
460	460	13–4408. 5
461	461
462	462	THE PROGRAM SHALL PUBLISH A NOTICE CONCERNING THE SERVICES 6
463	463	OFFERED BY THE PROGRAM THAT SHALL BE POSTED IN A CONSPICU OUS LOCATION 7
464	464	AND INCLUDED IN WRIT TEN MATERIALS BY : 8
465	465
466	466	(1) EACH EMPLOYER THAT PROVID ES HEALTH INSURANCE OR A 9
467	467	HEALTH PLAN ; 10
468	468
469	469	(2) MENTAL HEALTH AND SUB STANCE USE DISORDER PROVIDERS 11
470	470	AND CRISIS SERVICES ; AND 12
471	471
472	472	(3) OTHER ENTITIES ON REA SONABLE REQUEST BY T HE PROGRAM. 13
473	473
474	474	13–4409. 14
475	475
476	476	(A) THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUA L BUDGET BILL THE 15
477	477	FOLLOWING AMOUNTS TO THE FUND: 16
478	478
479	479	(1) $1,000,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024; 17
480	480
481	481	(2) $1,000,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025; AND 18
482	482
483	483	(3) $1,000,000 FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 19
484	484
485	485	(B) (1) THE APPROPRIATION TO THE FUND FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 20
486	486	UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE USED TO FUND TH E 21
487	487	INCUBATOR ENTITY TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVI TIES SPECIFIED UNDER § 13–4404 OF 22
488	488	THIS SUBTITLE. 23
489	489
490	490	(2) THE APPROPRIATIONS FO R FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 2026 UNDER 24
491	491	SUBSECTION (A)(2) AND (3) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L BE USED TO F UND THE HUB 25
492	492	ENTITY, ANY SPOKE AND SPECIA LTY ENTITIES CONTRAC TED BY THE HUB ENTIT Y TO 26
493	493	CARRY OUT THE ACTIVI TIES SPECIFIED UNDER § 13–4405 OF THIS SUBTITLE , AND 27
494	494	ANY ACTIVITIES CONDU CTED BY THE INCUBATO R ENTITY IN FISCAL YEARS 2025 AND 28
495	495	2026. 29
496	496	12 HOUSE BILL 517
497	497
498	498
499	499	(C) THE PROGRAM MAY APPLY FOR AND AC CEPT GRANTS , GIFTS, AND 1
500	500	OTHER FUNDS FROM FED ERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS AND FO UNDATIONS AND 2
501	501	PRIVATE DONATIONS FO R THE PURPOSE OF CAR RYING OUT THE PROGRAM’S 3
502	502	RESPONSIBILITIES . 4
503	503
504	504	Article – State Finance and Procurement 5
505	505
506	506	6–226. 6
507	507
508	508	(a) (2) (i) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and unless 7
509	509	inconsistent with a federal law, grant agreement, or other federal requirement or with the 8
510	510	terms of a gift or settlement agreement, net interest on all State money allocated by the State 9
511	511	Treasurer under this section to special funds or accounts, and otherwise entitled to receive 10
512	512	interest earnings, as accounted for by the Comptroller, shall accrue to the General Fund of 11
513	513	the State. 12
514	514
515	515	(ii) The provisions of subparagraph (i) of this paragraph do not apply 13
516	516	to the following funds: 14
517	517
518	518	144. the Health Equity Resource Community Reserve Fund; 15
519	519	[and] 16
520	520
521	521	145. the Access to Counsel in Evictions Special Fund; AND 17
522	522
523	523	146. THE CONSUMER HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM FOR 18
524	524	MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION CARE FUND. 19
525	525
526	526	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
527	527	October 1, 2022. 21
528	528