§ 13-2702. In general

   (a) Coordinated services to veterans. -- 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 Affairs, the Maryland National Guard, and the Maryland Defense Force, shall provide behavioral health service coordination for veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them to behavioral health services 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 veterans in all geographic regions of the State to connect them to behavioral health services which may be available through the Mental Hygiene Administration or the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration, until such federal services can be accessed and obtained; and

      (ii) Shall provide behavioral health services through the Mental Hygiene Administration or the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration based on eligibility and medical necessity criteria established by these administrations; and

   (3) Shall provide veterans up-to-date information about behavioral health services and resources through a Web-based resource program.

(b) Additional services; short-term services. -- 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 veterans who:

   (1) Meet the eligibility and medical necessity criteria of the Mental Hygiene Administration and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Administration; and

   (2) Cannot obtain immediate access to behavioral health services through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

(c) Specific short-term services. --

   (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 a 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) Accounting for services under (b). -- The Department shall account separately for funds used to provide behavioral health services to veterans under subsection (b) of this section.

HISTORY: 2011, chs. 81, 82.