The Maryland Department of Health has received federal approval to expand access to behavioral health and home and community-based services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances, enhancing eligibility, reducing administrative barriers, and improving family and peer support under the state’s 1915(i) Medicaid plan.
Attorney General Anthony Brown and 19 other attorneys general have urged the American Medical Association to adopt stronger protections for health care providers by opposing board certification requirements that compel travel to states with restrictive abortion and gender-affirming care laws, citing safety and access concerns.
The FDA has approved Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine, Nuvaxovid, for adults 65+ and high-risk individuals aged 12–64, triggering a $175 million milestone payment from Sanofi, which will lead commercialization.
The Maryland Department of Health is seeking public comment on proposed regulations to strengthen oversight of community-based behavioral health programs by clarifying standards, establishing staffing requirements, streamlining licensing, and enhancing enforcement, as part of a broader effort to combat fraud and ensure quality care. (more…)
The Frederick County Health Department is warning residents about the presence of 5F-ADB, a dangerous and illegal synthetic cannabinoid also known as Spice or K2, found in products labeled “THC, Diazy La Ruse, Peufra The Tiger.” The drug can cause severe health effects or death, and the department urges anyone witnessing an overdose to administer Narcan and call 911 immediately. (more…)
Montgomery County’s homeless population increased by 356 people, a 32% rise from 2024, according to the 2025 Point-in-Time survey. Officials attributed the spike to rising rents, the end of federal rental assistance, and a lack of affordable housing. (more…)
The Maryland Department of Health released a fact sheet outlining how proposed federal Medicaid cuts—including work requirements, reduced provider funding, and limits on care—could significantly impact over 1.5 million Marylanders who rely on the program. (more…)
Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services will host a free public forum on mental health and substance use communication on Saturday, May 17 in Silver Spring, offering breakout sessions, local resources, and Narcan training. (more…)
Gaithersburg-based Novavax announced preliminary results from the SHIELD-Utah study, conducted with the University of Utah Health, showing that its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine targeting the JN.1 strain caused fewer and less severe reactogenicity symptoms and less disruption to daily activities compared to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine in healthcare workers and first responders. (more…)
The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services released the updated “Health in Montgomery County 2013-2022” report, which provides a comprehensive overview of the County’s population health, highlighting key issues such as health disparities, chronic diseases, and social determinants, while comparing outcomes to state and national averages and focusing on equity in public health. (more…)
On Thursday, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of attorneys general and the Governor of Pennsylvania in suing the U.S. Department of Education over its decision to end states’ access to certain COVID-19 relief education funds, arguing the move was abrupt, harmful, and contrary to previous guidance. (more…)