BALTIMORE, MD—A six-month pause on new applications for certain behavioral health providers will go into effect on July 1, the Maryland Department of Health announced.

The pause applies to new applications for psychiatric rehabilitation programs, health homes, level 2.5 partial hospital programs, and level 2.1 intensive outpatient treatment programs, according to a news release from the department.

Officials say the pause is in response to the rapid growth of those provider types since they moved to an accreditation-only model for provider licensing. The move aims to allow the department to “assess and evaluate the provider landscape, the quality of care rendered, compliance with state and federal regulations, and identify, and mitigate potential fraud, waste, and abuse.”

Department officials said the pause does not impact access to behavioral health services provided by individual practitioners, behavioral health services provider clinics operated in regulated hospital spaces, and behavioral health service providers at federally qualified health centers.

“Access to quality behavioral health services for Marylanders is my top priority,” said Deputy Secretary for Behavioral Health Alyssa Lord.

Applications for new providers that were filed before July 1 will not be impacted.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.