Maryland Telehealth Laws

Does Maryland have a telehealth registration for out-of-state clinicians?

No telehealth registration for out-of-state physicians, NPs or PAs. A clinician treating a patient in Maryland by telehealth must be licensed or otherwise authorized in Maryland. The temporary telehealth license in Maryland law is for professional counselors.

• No telehealth-specific registration: a clinician needs the full license or an exception.

Citation: Md. Code, Health Occ. § 1-1005; COMAR 10.32.05.03

When can an out-of-state clinician treat Maryland patients without a Maryland license?

An unlicensed physician licensed and residing elsewhere may consult with a Maryland physician about a patient without directing care. A physician in an adjoining state may prescribe home health services after an in-person exam in that state.

• Exception for consultation with a licensed physician

Citation: Md. Code, Health Occ. §§ 14-301, 14-302

Can a patient relationship start by telehealth in Maryland?

A practitioner may establish a relationship through synchronous or asynchronous telehealth after verifying identity, disclosing name, contact information and license type, and obtaining consent. The statutory definition of telehealth excludes care delivered solely by audio-only calls, email or fax.

• Audio-only cannot establish the relationship
• Asynchronous care can establish the relationship

Citation: Md. Code, Health Occ. §§ 1-1001(e), 1-1002; COMAR 10.32.05.05

Does Maryland require telehealth consent?

Oral or written consent from the patient, or a parent or guardian where state law requires, is a condition of establishing a relationship by telehealth.

• Verbal or written consent

Citation: Md. Code, Health Occ. § 1-1002(3)

What limits does Maryland put on prescribing by telehealth?

An appropriate clinical evaluation, synchronous or asynchronous, must come before treatment or a prescription. Board of Physicians rules bar treating or prescribing based solely on a static online questionnaire.

• Questionnaire-only prescribing is prohibited
• Schedule II opiates for pain may not be prescribed by telehealth unless the patient is in a health care facility, a catastrophic health emergency is declared, or the practitioner or a same-group colleague has done a prior in-person assessment in an ongoing relationship.

Citation: Md. Code, Health Occ. § 1-1003(b)-(c); COMAR 10.32.05.06

Does Maryland require its own controlled-substance registration?

Maryland practitioners need a state CDS registration as well as DEA registration, and must register with the state PDMP before a new or renewed CDS registration is issued.

• Required, issued by Maryland Department of Health, Office of Controlled Substances Administration (CDS registration)

Do private payers in Maryland have to cover telehealth?

• Private-payer telehealth coverage law
• Explicit payment parity

Citation: Md. Code, Ins. § 15-139

How does Maryland treat the corporate practice of medicine?

Does Maryland have a consumer health data law?

In effect since Oct. 1, 2025. Consumer health data is sensitive data: it may be collected only when strictly necessary and may never be sold. Geofencing near mental or reproductive health facilities is also restricted.

• Maryland Online Data Privacy Act (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-4701 et seq.)