A recent report shows Maryland must expand its behavioral health workforce by 50% to meet growing demand, a critical challenge that will intensify without action.
A report in a recent Maryland Matters article shows that Maryland faces a critical shortage of behavioral health workers. Maryland will need approximately 30,000 new professionals by 2028 to address current gaps and rising demand. This problem is exacerbated by the recent $12 million July budget cuts to local health departments.
As previously reported by MACo, this $12 million reduction in funding to local health departments is nearly a 10% cut to already inadequate funding for today’s needs. Like many states, Maryland continues to struggle with rising mental health challenges, drug overdoses, and health disparities. The cut in funding makes it difficult to hire staff and may result in staff cuts and scaled-back outreach efforts directly affecting vulnerable populations.
A recent report, Investing in Maryland’s Behavioral Health Talent, highlights that the state had 34,613 behavioral health workers in 2023, falling 18,222 short of current needs. By 2028, an additional 14,565 workers will be required to keep pace with growing demand, with attrition rates exacerbating the issue.
Key factors driving the shortage include from the article:
“Historical underinvestment in the behavioral health system, increasing rates of mental illness and substance use and high rates of burnout and attrition has led to a national shortage of peer recovery specialists.”
The report, commissioned by the Maryland Health Care Commission, recommends a $148.5 million investment over five years to raise wages, improve reimbursement rates, offer tuition assistance, and streamline licensing processes. It also suggests promoting careers in behavioral health.
Vacancies strain the system, leading to waitlists, unstaffed facilities, and increased burnout among existing workers. From the Maryland Matters article:
“If this falls by the wayside because of budget shortfalls … it’s not just behavioral health that’s going to pay for that. It’s the schools, it’s the hospitals, it’s the criminal justice system and ultimately it’s vulnerable people in Maryland,” said Shannon Hall, executive director of Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland.
Investments in the behavioral health workforce are essential to prevent higher costs and systemic disruption in the future.
Stay tuned to the Conduit Street for more information.
