On February 14, the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) finalized the Uniform Treatment Plan Form to be used whenever a Private Review Agent requires a health care provider to submit a treatment plan as part of its utilization review of mental health or substance use disorders.  The changes, originally proposed in December for the Private Review Agents regulations under COMAR 31.10.21, add the ASAM criteria to the form as required by 2019 legislation.

The MPS submitted comments aimed at improving the user experience and reducing the administrative burden.  The MIA incorporated two of the three MPS suggestions into the final form.  Although the MPS asserted a need to eliminate redundancy and reduce paperwork, MIA chose not to allow providers to skip the current symptoms and impairments section on page 1 when they are required to complete the new section on page 3 related to substance use.