MD HB1093

Reduces carrier response time for provider credentialing applications from 30 days to 5 days for initial acknowledgment, and from 120 days to 30 days for final acceptance/rejection decision (15 days for community-based behavioral health providers, reduced from 60 days)

Establishes $500 per day civil penalty paid to providers when carriers fail to send required notices within the specified timeframes

Prohibits carriers from charging application fees and requires them to accept the uniform credentialing form through the online credentialing system, with dedicated phone and email contacts for credentialing inquiries

Expands prohibition on limiting credentialed providers to include behavioral health providers at health care facilities, federally qualified health centers, local health departments, school-based health centers, and other essential community providers

Requires carriers to use the online credentialing system as the primary source for updating provider directories and mandates a stakeholder workgroup to address operational issues, with annual reporting to the General Assembly beginning December 2027