Advocating for Maryland’s Disability Support System
Leadership from Opportunities, Inc. took an active role in advocating for policy changes and funding decisions that directly impact Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), the families who love them, and the community providers who support them.
Advocacy like this is central to our mission to empower people, advance inclusion and ensure the stability of services across the state.
Hearing Before the House Appropriations Health and Social Services Subcommittee
Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Rob Baynard, testified before the House Appropriations Health and Social Services Subcommittee.
Rob spoke on behalf of Opportunities, Inc., the people we support, and their families about the critical challenges presented by proposed budget reductions to the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). In his testimony, Rob highlighted ongoing structural and fiscal issues within the DDA that have created instability year after year. He emphasized that meaningful, sustainable solutions must protect access to services — particularly for people with the greatest needs — while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
“We can’t continue to experience a DDA budget crisis year after year. We need sustainable solutions that balance fiscal responsibility with protecting vulnerable citizens.”
Rob’s testimony underscored the importance of involving community providers and families in developing policy solutions that preserve services and promote stability for individuals with disabilities.
Testifying in Support of Senate Bill 742
Our Chief Operating Officer (COO) Daphni Steffin testified in support of Senate Bill 742 (SB742) in the Senate hearing.
This legislation aims to improve accountability and coordination in the Medicaid eligibility redetermination process — changes urgently needed to prevent unnecessary service interruptions. Daphni’s testimony shares the real-world impact of eligibility issues on the people we support:
“Every week, I log into our billing system to see whose Medicaid payment has been kicked back. And every week, we face the possibility of pausing essential services — not because someone became ineligible, not because their needs changed, but because of avoidable breakdowns in eligibility redetermination.”
Since late 2024, administrative eligibility breakdowns have forced Opportunities, Inc. to pause services for 16 people — with nine still without services today. These involuntary gaps in care not only isolate people but create distress for families and operational strain across community providers.
Why This Matters
When eligibility is wrongly terminated, services stop immediately. But people’s needs do not. Immediate pauses in services can force families to interrupt work and step in to fill critical support roles, and they strain already thin nonprofit provider networks.
In a fee-for-service environment, providers cannot bill for services that are not delivered — and when revenue stops, financial challenges escalate quickly. Reliable, predictable funding and policy stability are essential to ensure continuity of care for people with disabilities and the financial health of the provider community.
Senate Bill 742 represents an important step toward creating the accountability and system coordination Maryland urgently needs — to protect continuity of care, reduce avoidable disruptions, and promote stability for people with disabilities, their families, and the providers who support them.
Continuing Our Advocacy
Opportunities, Inc. remains committed to elevating the voices of the people we support, their families, and community partners.
Our presence in Annapolis reflects our deep commitment to shaping a policy landscape that promotes inclusion, stability, and opportunity for all Marylanders. We will continue to share updates from the hearing and next steps in this legislative session. Stay connected by signing up for our newsletter or following us on social.