<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<subtitle article="ghg" title_number="13" subtitle_number="39" title_name="Miscellaneous Health Care Programs" subtitle_name="Veteran Suicide Prevention">
  <section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="13-3901" effective_note="EFFECTIVE UNTIL JUNE 30, 2029 PER CHAPTER 35 OF 2019" title_number="13" title_name="Miscellaneous Health Care Programs" subtitle_number="39" subtitle_name="Veteran Suicide Prevention">
    <level label="a">
      <text>The Department shall develop a comprehensive action plan to increase access to and availability of professional veteran health services to prevent veteran suicides that includes:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>Short–term initiatives and reforms and a plan for State implementation beginning on or before July 1, 2021; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Long–term initiatives and reforms and a plan for State implementation beginning on or before July 1, 2023.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="b">
      <text>The action plan developed under subsection (a) of this section shall:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>Identify opportunities for raising awareness of and providing resources for veteran suicide prevention;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>Identify opportunities to increase access to veteran mental health services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>Identify funding resources to provide accessible and affordable veteran mental health services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="4">
        <text>Provide measures to expand public–private partnerships to ensure access to quality and timely mental health services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="5">
        <text>Provide for proactive outreach measures to reach veterans needing care;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="6">
        <text>Provide for peer–to–peer service coordination, including training, certification, recertification, and continuing education for peer coordinators; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="7">
        <text>Address suicide prevention awareness, measures, and training regarding veterans who are involved in the justice system.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="c">
      <text>The Department shall collaborate with interested parties in developing the plan required under subsection (a) of this section, including:</text>
      <level label="1">
        <text>The Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>The United States Department of Veterans Affairs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="3">
        <text>The Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center Implementation Academy of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="4">
        <text>Veteran advocacy groups;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="5">
        <text>Medical providers; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="6">
        <text>Any other interested party the Department considers appropriate.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="d">
      <level label="1">
        <text>The Department shall implement the short–term initiatives and reforms in the plan developed under subsection (a)(1) of this section on or before June 30, 2023.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="2">
        <text>The Department shall implement the long–term initiatives and reforms in the plan required under subsection (a)(2) of this section on or before June 30, 2029.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </section>
</subtitle>