We're fast approaching the first day of school! Baltimore City and County schools open their doors on August 26.
03.20.18
Our staff and clients have been advocating mightily this legislative session on key bills for our community, and their voices are making a difference. See a full overview of our legislative priorities and how they're faring here. For a quick update on our key bills as the session enters its final weeks, read below.
THIS IS BIG. We are the closest we’ve been in 15-plus years to making a TDAP increase happen.
The bill that would increase Maryland’s Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP) benefit is halfway to becoming a reality: It passed the House of Delegates March 16 and is now in the Senate.
See details below but in short, HB 1615/SB 1231, if passed, would increase the monthly TDAP benefit to $215 a month as of July 1, 2019—up from $185 a month today and, thanks to an FY2019 budget increase, $195 as of July 1, 2018. It would then increase $8-$12 each year until it is equal to the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) benefit for a one-person household, or $306 a month.
But in the immediate term, we can’t leave Senate passage of the TDAP bill to chance, so we’re pushing senators hard in the days ahead, and we need your help! Here’s what you can do:
HB 1615/SB 1231—as amended—would:
We are feeling very good about this one passing.
The bill to certify community health workers passed the House of Delegates March 13. Its Senate counterpart never moved forward, but because the House version passed, that version crossed over to the Senate with amendments and is now with the Senate Finance Committee, where it will get a hearing.
HB 490/ SB 163—as amended—would:
More very good and big news...
The Senate passed the adult Medicaid benefit bill with amendments that would not create a full adult dental benefit, but instead an adult dental benefit pilot. Details still to come, but this is a huge step forward in the push for Medicaid coverage and your advocacy mattered! Now on to the House of Delegates...
This bill has not made progress in either chamber since hearings in late February and early March. Stay tuned.
End Youth Homelessness Act: HB 1224/ SB 1218
This breezed through the House of Delegates and is now in the Senate. Stay tuned!
Medicaid Coverage for Peer Recovery Services: HB 765/ SB 772
The bill to make services delivered by peer recovery specialist reimbursable through Medicaid is making its way through both chambers with amendments that don’t make the services reimbursable through Medicaid, but do create a workgroup that will make recommendations on the reimbursement of certified peer recovery specialists to the governor and General Assembly by December, 2018.
We're fast approaching the first day of school! Baltimore City and County schools open their doors on August 26.
Anthony is always cracking jokes around 421 Fallsway, where he also volunteers to help other clients navigate their care.
Since 2019, Health Care for the Homeless has been part of the Renters United Maryland (RUM) coalition—a key
advocacy group advancing housing justice in Maryland. We talked to RUM leader Zafar Shah about the coalition
and wins this legislative session.
Join Our Team! Through the end of December 2024, we’re offering sign-on bonuses for full-time and part-time frontline positions in our clinics.