​June 30, 2025

Media Contact:
Ebony Wilder, Deputy Director, Office of Communications, 410-767-8650

Maryland Department of Health lifts pause for certain behavioral health providers in specific jurisdictions, continues pause for others

Baltimore, MD — The Maryland Department of Health today announced it will lift the moratorium on new behavioral health provider enrollments in certain rural and underserved Maryland jurisdictions while also extending the temporary pause for certain counties.

"Our goal is to ensure quality care for all Marylanders. This action is important progress in meeting that goal, as it helps us prioritize access to vital services in our rural and underserved communities,” said Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Alyssa Lord. “Now, we are able to shift our focus to other jurisdictions in our effort to improve the patient experience while also mitigating Medicaid fraud, waste, and abuse across Maryland."

Effective July 1, 2025, the Department will lift the moratorium on newly enrolling providers for Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs (PRP), Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programs (Health Home), Level 2.5 Partial Hospital Programs (PHP), and Level 2.1 Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programs (IOP) in the following Maryland counties:

• Allegany County
• Calvert County
• Caroline County
• Cecil County
• Charles County
• Dorchester County
• Garret County
• Kent County
• Queen Anne’s County
• St. Mary’s County
• Somerset County
• Talbot County
• Worcester County
• Wicomico County

Providers with licensed physical addresses located in these counties may resume submitting new enrollment applications to the Maryland Medicaid Program.

The pause is extended, however, for the same provider types in the following jurisdictions, also effective July 1: 

• Anne Arundel County
• Baltimore City
• Baltimore County
• Carroll County
• Frederick County
• Harford County
• Howard County
• Montgomery County
• Prince George’s County
• Washington County

The Department will also continue the licensure process for all providers seeking to become a licensed community behavioral health provider and maintain the enrollment process for existing provider Medicaid revalidations, relocations, mergers, and acquisitions.

For more information, review the Maryland Medicaid transmittal or access the FAQs.

For questions, please email bha.licensingcompliance@maryland.gov. 


The Maryland Department of Health is dedicated to protecting and improving the health and safety of all Marylanders through disease prevention, access to care, quality management and community engagement. 

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