Hospitals and Related Institutions – Residential Treatment Centers – Accreditation

This Maryland law expands the definition of an accredited residential treatment center to include facilities certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities and the Council on Accreditation, in addition to those already recognized by the Joint Commission. By updating state health codes, the bill ensures that these additional organizations are treated with the same regulatory respect as the primary accrediting body when determining a facility's status. Consequently, residential treatment centers accredited by these new organizations will be subject to the same inspection and enforcement procedures as previously recognized centers if serious patient care issues are identified. The changes take effect on October 1, 2024, and apply to all relevant health care facilities under the state's general health regulations.