# Health - General (GHG) ## Title 13. Miscellaneous Health Care Programs ### Subtitle 27. Behavioral Health Services for Maryland Veterans #### Section 13-2701 (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. (b) "Behavioral health services" means mental health services or alcohol and substance abuse services. (c) (1) "Crisis services" means temporary services designed to address and stabilize a severe behavioral health problem and to avoid an emergency situation. (2) "Crisis services" includes hotlines, in-home support, and residential crisis services. (d) "Eligible veteran" means a veteran who is a Maryland resident. (e) "Maryland Defense Force" means the military force established under Sec. 13-501 of the Public Safety Article. (f) "Maryland National Guard" means the Maryland Army National Guard and Maryland Air National Guard. (g) "Service coordination" means a service designed to coordinate and provide assistance in obtaining access to behavioral health services. (h) "Web-based resource program" means an interactive web-based communication medium that: (1) Allows individuals to access comprehensive information, advocacy, and other resources regarding public and private behavioral health services, crisis and emergency services, and early intervention and prevention programs; and (2) Enables the public and private health care communities to work together to address the problems related to providing and obtaining access to behavioral health services. #### Section 13-2702 (a) Subject to the limitations of its budget, the Department: (1) In collaboration with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families, the Maryland National Guard, and the Maryland Defense Force, shall provide behavioral health service coordination for eligible veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them to behavioral health services, including mental health first aid described under Sec. 13-2703(b) of this subtitle, which may be available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; (2) (i) Where behavioral health services are not yet available or accessible through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, shall provide service coordination for eligible veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them to behavioral health services, including mental health first aid described under Sec. 13-2703(b) of this subtitle, which may be available through the Behavioral Health Administration, until such federal services can be accessed and obtained; and (ii) Shall provide behavioral health services through the Behavioral Health Administration based on eligibility and medical necessity criteria established by these administrations; and (3) Shall provide eligible veterans up-to-date information about behavioral health services and resources through a web-based resource program. (b) Subject to the limitations of its budget and in addition to the service coordination provided under subsection (a) of this section, the Department shall provide or fund certain behavioral health services for eligible veterans who: (1) Meet the eligibility and medical necessity criteria of the Behavioral Health Administration; and (2) Cannot obtain immediate access to behavioral health services through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. (c) (1) The behavioral health services provided under subsection (b) of this section may include: (i) Crisis services in all geographic regions of the State; and (ii) Short-term behavioral health services, where existing federal and State behavioral health services are determined by the Department to be inadequate or inaccessible. (2) The short-term behavioral health services provided under paragraph (1)(ii) of this subsection: (i) Shall be available only until an eligible veteran is able to access and obtain adequate behavioral health services through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; and (ii) May include: (1) Screening assessments; (2) Individual, family, and group therapy; (3) Substance abuse early intervention and detoxification services; and (4) Substance abuse medication-assisted treatment. (3) The Department shall seek reimbursement from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or other responsible public or private payer for any behavioral health services provided under subsection (b) of this section. (d) The Department shall account separately for funds used to provide behavioral health services to eligible veterans under subsection (b) of this section. #### Section 13-2703 (a) The behavioral health services for which the Department provides service coordination for eligible veterans under this subtitle shall include mental health first aid. (b) Mental health first aid shall consist of training for eligible veterans and the immediate family members of eligible veterans on how to identify and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. (c) Each entity teaching a mental health first aid course shall report to the Department: (1) The number of eligible veterans who took the mental health first aid course; and (2) The number of family members of eligible veterans who took the mental health first aid course. (d) On or before June 1 each year, beginning in 2023, if the Department received a report under subsection (c) of this section in the immediately preceding year, the Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with Sec. 2-1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly the following information for the immediately preceding year: (1) The total number of eligible veterans in the State who took a mental health first aid course; (2) The total number of family members of eligible veterans in the State who took a mental health first aid course; and (3) The total number of mental health first aid courses taught in the State, reported by the entity that taught the mental health first aid course. --- Md. Code Ann., Health-Gen. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)