MD HB1351

Insurance carriers must complete credentialing decisions for certain behavioral health providers within 60 days of receiving a completed application, reduced from the standard 120-day timeline for other providers

Protected behavioral health providers include licensed master social workers, licensed graduate alcohol and drug counselors, licensed graduate marriage and family therapists, licensed graduate professional art therapists, licensed graduate professional counselors, and registered psychology associates

Carriers cannot reject providers working in COMAR 10.63.02-accredited community-based health programs solely because they practice within their license scope at the graduate or associate level

Removes licensed graduate social workers from the list of protected community-based providers while maintaining protections for licensed master social workers

Effective October 1, 2025