Credentialing by state / Maryland
Therapist Credentialing in Maryland
Enrollments are billed 50% at the start and 50% at submission; everything else 100% at the start.
Maryland belongs to all three behavioral health licensure compacts, which decides how easily LPCs, LCSWs, LMFTs and psychologists in Baltimore, Columbia and Silver Spring can treat clients across state lines. It does not change payer enrollment: Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Medicare each credential you on their own, whatever your license route.
| PSYPACT (psychologists) | Effective, since May 18, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Counseling Compact (LPC/LMHC) | Member, privileges not yet issued |
| Social Work Compact (LCSW) | Member, not yet operational |
| LMFTs | No interstate compact; license in each state |
| Medicare contractor | Novitas Solutions, jurisdiction JL |
| Medicaid | Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice), 9 managed-care plans |
| Commercial decision deadline | 150 days (Md. Code Ann., Ins. § 15-112) |
Licensure Compacts in Maryland
PSYPACT for psychologists
Maryland's PSYPACT law took effect on May 18, 2021. A psychologist whose home state is Maryland can apply through ASPPB for the E.Passport, which supports the Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT), and for the IPC, which supports temporary in-person practice (TAP) in other PSYPACT states. Both depend on holding an unrestricted Maryland license, and both are separate from payer enrollment.
Across the border, Washington, DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia also participate, so a border practice can reach every adjoining state under APIT once the E.Passport is issued.
Counseling Compact for LPCs
Maryland has passed the Counseling Compact, but as of October 2026 it is not one of the 10 states issuing privileges, so membership does not yet let a counselor practice across the Maryland line. The Commission says members must finish readiness steps, including data sharing and testing, before going live. Its neighbors Washington, DC, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia are in the same position: enacted, not yet live.
Social Work Licensure Compact for LCSWs
Maryland is one of the 33 jurisdictions listed as members of the Social Work Licensure Compact. The compact will offer a multistate license rather than a per-state privilege, but the Commission's July 2026 update says multistate licenses are not yet available and puts completion of the data system at spring 2027, so Maryland LCSWs still need each state's license today.
Compacts Grant a License Route, Not a Network Seat
A compact privilege is permission to practice; it is not enrollment. A Maryland therapist who adds clients in another state through a compact still needs that state's Medicaid enrollment, a practice location the plans accept there, and a separate application to each commercial plan or behavioral health network in that state. CAQH (DataSpring) carries the extra license or privilege, but every payer decides on its own timeline.
Medicare for Maryland LMFTs and Counselors
Since January 1, 2024, Medicare pays marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors directly, and a Maryland LPC qualifies as a mental health counselor when the license and degree meet the federal definition. Enrollment is the CMS-855I in PECOS, reviewed for Maryland by Novitas Solutions; payment is 75% of the clinical psychologist amount. LCSWs and psychologists were already eligible, so for Maryland practices this is the first time every licensed therapist on staff can be a Medicare provider.
Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice) and Its Plans
Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice) enrollment is filed with the Maryland Department of Health through ePREP, the Maryland electronic Provider Revalidation and Enrollment Portal. Most members are in managed care, and each plan credentials therapists as its own application once the state enrollment is active. The largest by 2024 enrollment:
- Priority Partners: 384,354 members
- Wellpoint Maryland: 350,641 members, owned by Elevance Health
- Maryland Physicians Care: 266,727 members
See all 9 plans; confirm with each one whether it credentials behavioral health directly or through a vendor.
Maryland Rules for Commercial Plans
Maryland law gives commercial plans 150 days to decide, counted from a completed application: the carrier must say within 30 days that it will keep processing it, then accept or reject within 120 days of that notice (Md. Code Ann., Ins. § 15-112). The CAQH online form is the uniform credentialing form, and carriers may not ask for information outside it. (Md. Code Ann., Ins. § 15-112.1)
Neighboring States
- Washington, DC: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact no
- Delaware: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact enacted
- Pennsylvania: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact no
- Virginia: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact enacted
- West Virginia: PSYPACT yes; Counseling Compact enacted; Social Work Compact enacted
The full checklist, the carve-out networks and timelines are in our therapist credentialing guide; Medicare, Medicaid and commercial basics for every clinician type are on credentialing in Maryland.
Questions Maryland Therapists Ask
Can a Maryland LPC see clients in another state by telehealth?
Not through the compact yet. Maryland has passed the Counseling Compact but is not issuing privileges as of October 2026, so a license in the client's state is still required. Either way, each payer in that state needs its own enrollment.
Is Maryland a PSYPACT state?
Yes. Maryland's PSYPACT law took effect on May 18, 2021. Maryland psychologists can practice telepsychology into other participating states under APIT once ASPPB issues the E.Passport, but each payer still credentials them per state.
How does a Maryland therapist join Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice)?
Enroll with the Maryland Department of Health through ePREP, the Maryland electronic Provider Revalidation and Enrollment Portal. Maryland Medicaid (HealthChoice) enrolls 1,665,870 people across 9 managed-care plans (2024), and each plan you want, such as Priority Partners, Wellpoint Maryland, Maryland Physicians Care, credentials you separately once the state enrollment is active.
Can Maryland LMFTs and counselors bill Medicare?
Yes, since January 1, 2024. Marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors licensed in Maryland enroll on the CMS-855I through PECOS, reviewed by Novitas Solutions, and Medicare pays them 75% of the clinical psychologist amount. They need 2 years or 3,000 hours of post-master's supervised clinical experience.
Answers cover PECS services, prices and process. For legal, tax or clinical questions please consult a professional.
Sources: PSYPACT Commission, participating states map and legislation table; Counseling Compact Commission, member states and news and go-live announcements; Social Work Licensure Compact Commission, member jurisdictions and news and status updates; CMS, Marriage and Family Therapists and Mental Health Counselors; KFF, Medicaid MCO Enrollment by Plan and Parent Firm, 2024; Maryland statute. Compact status as of October 8, 2026; confirm with the Maryland licensing board before relying on it.