# Maryland SB 0039: Behavioral Health Rate Methodology Modernization - Workgroup Establishment and Study

Maryland SB 0039, Behavioral Health Rate Methodology Modernization - Workgroup Establishment and Study, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Clarence K. Lam (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-04-28 (Approved by the Governor - Chapter 218) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0039-2026RS
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maryland SB 0039
- State: Maryland
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Behavioral Health Rate Methodology Modernization - Workgroup Establishment and Study
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-11-01
- Last action: 2026-04-28, Approved by the Governor - Chapter 218
- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Public Health, Administrative Agencies, Appropriations, Budgets -see also- Capital Budgets, Certifications, Clinics, Committees and Commissions, Counselors and Therapists, Disparity, Emergency Medical Services -see also- Ambul; RescSqd, Evaluations and Reviews, General Assembly -see also- AELR Cmte; LegislativePolCmte, Governor, Health -see also- COVID19; EnvHlth; MedCon; etc., Health Care Commission, Health Care Facilities -see also- Clinics; Hospices; etc, Health, Department of, Health Planning and Cost Review, Human Infrastructure -see also- WLE, Legislative Services, Department of, Licenses -see also- AB Lic; Certifications; DrLic; Permits, Medical Assistance, Mental and Behavioral Health -see also- Aut; Cogn; Dev; etc., Prices -see also- Consumer Price Index, Privacy, Public Benefits -see also- Housing; MedAsst; SupplNutrAsstP, Recruitment and Hiring, Reimbursements, Reports, Rules and Regulations, Standards and Best Practices, Studies -see also- Commitees & Commissions; Reports, Sunset
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 2 (176 yes, 3 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Cost-based payment planning for behavioral health providers: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland establishes a process to base community behavioral health payments on actual care costs. A Maryland Health Care Commission workgroup develops payment methods for certified community behavioral health clinics, outpatient mental health centers, and independent outpati…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-04-13 | House | Third Reading Passed | pass | 134 | 3 | 3 |
| 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading Passed | pass | 42 | 0 | 2 |

## Actions (16)

- 2026-04-28: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 218
- 2026-04-13: Returned Passed (Senate)
- 2026-04-13: Third Reading Passed (134-3) (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Adopted Second Reading Passed (House)
- 2026-04-11: Favorable Report by Health (House)
- 2026-04-10: Rereferred to Health (House)
- 2026-04-09: Referred Rules and Executive Nominations (House)
- 2026-04-08: Third Reading Passed (42-0) (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Second Reading Passed with Amendments (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments {273123/1 Adopted (Senate)
- 2026-04-08: Favorable with Amendments Report by Finance (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Hearing 3/03 at 1:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Hearing canceled (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Hearing 2/03 at 2:00 p.m. (Senate)
- 2026-01-14: First Reading Finance (Senate)
- 2025-11-01: Pre-filed (Senate)

## Bill text

- Enacted, 2026-04-28: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_218_sb0039t.pdf)
- Third Reading, 2026-04-08: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0039t.pdf)
- First Reading, 2026-01-14: [PDF](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0039f.pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - Authorization (became law)
- SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishment (became law)
- SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)
- SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-1 Specialists Act) (became law)
- SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits (became law)
- HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program (became law)

## Sources
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/Chapters_noln/CH_218_sb0039t.pdf)
- [Third Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0039t.pdf)
- [First Reading (PDF)](https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2026RS/bills/sb/sb0039f.pdf)

## Related
- [SB 0496: Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Coverage for the Treatment of Obesity - A…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0496-2026RS)
- [SB 0366: Motor Vehicles - Intelligent Speed Assistance System Pilot Program - Establishm…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0366-2026RS)
- [SB 0244: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0244-2026RS)
- [SB 0148: Income Tax - Credit for 9-1-1 Specialist Retirement Income (Supporting Our 9-1-…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0148-2026RS)
- [SB 0016: Child Support - Earnings Withholdings Limits](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0016-2026RS)
- [HB 0529: Code Revision - Health - Maryland Medical Assistance Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-HB0529-2026RS)
- [Maryland bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland/bills)
- [Maryland state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/maryland)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/MD-SB0039-2026RS (as of 2026-10-19).