COMAR 10.63 Regulatory Revisions
The Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration is working to make regulatory updates to the COMAR 10.63 Community-Based Behavioral Health Programs and Services Regulations. Regulatory revisions impacting COMAR 10.63 Chapters 1, 2, 6, and 9 were published in the Maryland Register on May 16, 2025. MDH is committed to continuing to engage with stakeholders regarding these critical regulations.
While the proposed regulations for COMAR 10.63 Chapters 1, 2, 6, and 9 were held by the Joint Committee for Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review (AELR), the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) will not finalize the proposed regulations until after the program specific regulations are published later this year.
Changes Since Proposal Publication
In response to feedback received from the formal comment period, MDH will make the following changes to the proposed regulations:
- Rehabilitation Specialists - Adds the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (PRA) as a recognized certification.
- Telehealth - Removes blanket prohibition on audio-only telehealth. Aligning regulations with SB372 – Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2025
- Certified Associate Counselor- Alcohol and Drug (CAC-AD) – Updates text to include clinical supervision language to include CAC-ADs provided the CAC-AD is appropriately supervised.
- Commercial Kitchens – Adds definition of “Dietary Services” – Dietary services is comprehensive food preparation as a service provided to participants. Dietary services is not communal food preparation by participants or food preparation done as a rehabilitative activity.
For full updates to the regulatory text, please see the below regulatory text document which will be updated periodically. Additionally, summary slides providing details of these changes are included in the Summary Slides document below.
Upcoming Stakeholder Engagement Sessions
The Maryland Department of Health's Behavioral Health Administration will convene virtual stakeholder meetings to address further issues pertaining to COMAR 10.63, which were raised during the formal comment period. These meetings will be open to all attendees.
July 30, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM – Chapter 1
August 1, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Chapter 1
August 5, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM – Chapter 2
August 8, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Chapter 2
August 12, 2025 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM – Chapter 6
August 15, 2025 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM – Chapter 9
August 19, 2025 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM – Additional Discussion
Proposal Text - 
10.63.01, .02, .06, .09 Maryland Register.pdf
Synopsis - The purpose of this action is to repeal existing regulations within COMAR 10.63 (Community Behavioral Health Programs and Services) to align with current statutory requirements and include additional regulatory requirements to support improved quality of services compliance and provide a more equitable and sustainable operating environment for community-based behavioral health programs in the State. Chapter 1 sets forth compliance and reporting requirements for all organizations operating programs to provide community-based behavioral health services; Chapter 2 outlines general staffing requirements; Chapter 6 concerns the application and licensure process; and Chapter 9 provides the regulatory framework for corrective actions and sanctions undertaken by the Behavioral Health Administration for material and egregious non-compliance with federal or State law or regulation.
Printed in Maryland Register: May 16, 2025
Public Comment End Date: June 16, 2025
Status: Held by AELR Committee
