Bill > HB1131

This bill establishes a Buprenorphine Training Grant Program to help counties offset the costs of training paramedics to administer buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction. The program will be funded through the Opioid Restitution Fund, with the Governor required to include at least $50,000 in the annual budget for this purpose. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Maryland Office of Overdose Response convene a workgroup to study buprenorphine access in the state. The workgroup will include representatives from various healthcare and government organizations and will examine current buprenorphine services, provider capacity, geographic service gaps, potential financial support for expansion, data collection strategies, and methods to improve service delivery. The group will be required to submit a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations by December 31, 2025. The Buprenorphine Training Grant Program will be in effect for five years, from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2030, after which it will automatically expire, while the workgroup study will be effective for one year, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026.