Contact BHSB’s Provider Relations team with any questions about BHSB or the public behavioral health system in Baltimore City at provider-relations@bhsbaltimore.org.
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Get updates for behavioral health providers in Baltimore including information about funding opportunities, events and other opportunities to engage with BSHB:
Licensing and Accreditation Requirements
Community-based behavioral health programs are required to be licensed and accredited to operate in the State of Maryland. COMAR 10.63 outlines the licensing and accreditation requirements.
The following resources are available to assist providers with licensing and accreditation:
- Information on licensing and accreditation can be found on this Maryland Department of Health website.
- Contact BHSB’s Provider Relations team at provider-relations@bhsbaltimore.org for an agreement to cooperate in Baltimore City or with questions about the licensing and accreditation process.
Agreement to Cooperate
All behavioral health providers must enter an Agreement to Cooperate with BHSB before applying for a license in Baltimore. The agreement to cooperate is a written agreement between the program and the local behavioral health authority regarding the coordination and cooperation of behavioral health services (COMAR 10.63.01.02B(5)). Agreements are required when submitting an initial application, renewal application, or request for a change to the program license. Providers interested in entering an Agreement to Cooperate should review the following documents:
Maryland Medicaid
Optum Maryland is the Administrative Services Organization (ASO) for Maryland’s Public Behavioral Health System. The ASO pays for behavioral health services for Maryland Medicaid enrollees and people who are uninsured.
The following resources are available to assist providers with Maryland Medicaid:
- Apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. Providers need a NPI number to register with Medicaid.
- Sign up for Provider Alerts with Optum. To sign up, send an e-mail request to marylandprovideralerts@optum.com.
If you have questions or concerns about Optum, please contact BHSB’s Provider Relations Manager, Barry Waters at Provider-Relations@bhsbaltimore.org.
Language Access
Providers must provide adequate access for individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) and for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. To learn more about the regulations and to access resources to help improve language access check out our Language Access (LEP) Extended Resource Guide.
Trainings for Providers
- Public Behavioral Health System Training Toolkit: Share these 5–10-minute training videos with existing staff who may not be as familiar with PBHS services and use them during the onboarding process.
- Visit our Trainings page to learn about upcoming trainings for providers.