Mid-Atlantic Health Law TOPICS

1. In late October 2025, the Legislative Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee of the Maryland General Assembly raised concerns stemming from an April 2025 audit of dozens of professional oversight boards housed within the Maryland Department of Health (MDH). The report covered the period from September 2019 to July 2023, and found that many boards failed to investigate complaints against licensees in a timely manner and inconsistently applied criminal background check procedures for professionals seeking state licensure. The findings showed that of the 4,916 open cases studied across 20 boards and commissions, 3,051 of those cases had been open for more than two years and that the Board of Nursing was responsible for 2,411 of these cases. Auditors also found six boards that do not require any criminal background checks to obtain a license, while ten others do not get alerts on criminal activity involving licensees.

2. In early October 2025, the MDH announced the development of Community Pathways, the consolidation of its three Medicaid waiver programs managed by the Developmental Disabilities Administration into a single Medicaid waiver program. The waiver program allows children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to access Medicaid home and community-based services instead of institutional care. Marylanders receiving services through a waiver will be automatically transitioned to the Community Pathways Waiver program.

Kennedy M. Hagens
410-576-4146 • khagens@gfrlaw.com