Certificate of Need - Intermediate Health Care Facilities

Faster approval for residential addiction treatment

Beginning October 1, 2026, Maryland eases some approval steps for residential addiction treatment facilities. A new facility that offers medically managed residential substance use treatment can open without a full certificate of need if it files written notice at least 45 days before opening and the Health Care Commission finds it fits the State Health Plan, improves care, and is in the public interest. Licensed facilities can raise or lower bed counts by filing notice at least 45 days before the change. The Commission must decide if the change meets the rules and notify the facility within 45 days. The prior blanket exemption for some bed changes is ended; bed changes outside this notice-and-approval path still need a full certificate of need.