AUGUSTA - Yesterday, Governor Janet T. Mills announced a proposal to fund the urgent behavioral health needs of Maine people. As more Mainers report mental health needs as a top issue for children and adults, the commitment was welcomed by Democratic lawmakers.
The $19.7 million proposal supports services that were part of four bills that passed unanimously in 2021, LDs 432, 582, 496, and 415; bills to support Maine's ability to offer children's residential care, assertive community treatment for those with severe and persistent mental illness, targeted case management and outpatient therapy for children and adults.
Today, Speaker Fecteau and Democratic lawmakers at the forefront of the fight for mental health services released the following statements.
"In the initial public hearings on the supplemental budget, we heard loud and clear from Mainers who desperately need greater access to mental health care services for family and friends in need," said Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau D-Biddeford. "Governor Mills' announcement demonstrates her clear commitment to improving Maine's behavioral health services. I want to thank Representatives Madigan, Gramlich and Meyer, along with many other state legislators, for their tireless work on these issues."
"This announcement is the result of legislators working across party lines with advocates and the administration to help everyday Mainers have access to much-needed behavioral health care," said Rep. Colleen Madigan, D-Waterville, the sponsor of LD 432 and LD 582. "I am proud to see that Gov. Mills' proposed budget will include funding for two of my proposals, one to make behavioral health care more available for children and the other to advance evidence-based community treatment options. We have more work ahead of us to get everyone with behavioral health concerns access to the care they need, and I am grateful to have the Mills administration as a partner in this effort."
"I am so grateful to have behavioral health addressed in Gov. Mills' change package," said Rep. Lori Gramlich, D-Old Orchard, the sponsor of several bills aimed at improving access to behavioral health services, including LD 496. "Impacted families, social workers, advocates and legislators have been sounding the alarm about Maine's mental health crisis for years, and this one-time funding is an important first step towards addressing our states behavioral health needs. Since we need sustained funding for behavioral health in order to fix Maines incredibly fractured behavioral health system, I look forward to partnering with the administration and my colleagues in the Legislature to see how we can further develop these proposals to ensure that our most vulnerable residents have their behavioral health care needs met in the years to come."
"For the well-being of Maine people and our overall health care system, we need to increase funding for behavioral health care," said the House chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, Rep. Michele Meyer, D-Eliot, the co-sponsor of LD 415. "I am grateful that the Mills administration is taking action to help Mainers get access to the behavioral health care they need, where they need it and when they need it. In the weeks to come, I look forward to working with members of the budget-writing committee to ensure this funding will be effective at addressing Maine's behavioral health needs in the long run."
Maine is experiencing a behavioral health crisis that is impacting families, hospitals, schools and the criminal justice system. In the past year, over 20 residential mental health programs in Maine have closed due to financial deficits and workforce challenges. MaineHealth has reported that a third to half of emergency department beds are filled with individuals waiting to be discharged for residential mental health care. More than 70 children from Maine families are in out-of-state treatment centers due to a lack of capacity in Maine-based organizations. On top of all that, 12 Mainers died a week last year from opioid overdoses. The Governors proposal would fund measures to address many of these urgent needs.
CONTACT:
Jenna Howard (Fecteau), (207) 214-3185
Jackie Merrill (Meyer, Madigan, Gramlich), (207) 812-1111