MDH Policies
Welcome to the Maryland Department of Health's Policy and Procedure Internet web site. This site was designed to facilitate the access of MDH policies by staff and management. Only current, Department-wide policies are addressed at this site. Other directives, sometimes generically called "policies" exist at the program level, such as at MDH facilities, and there are also other directives in the form of guidelines, protocols, standards, manuals, etc. which may provide the advice which you are seeking on specific issues.
MDH 02.10.03, The MDH Policy on Policies, provides the authority and specifications for the development of MDH policies. See https://health.maryland.gov/policies/021003v1.pdf
As stated in 02.10.03, a "policy" is defined as "a plan of action or decision-making to be used by MDH employees and management when encountering certain issues or conditions that are of such significance, that a desired outcome has been prescribed". A "procedure" is defined as "a step-by-step process of interactions between designated individuals (actors), for the purpose of carrying out a MDH policy."
Quite often, MDH policies are used to implement State or Federal mandates in order to ensure MDH compliance, and also where an issue may span across two or more administrations.
MDH policies differ from other directives in that they:
- must undergo a prescribed review and approval process by affected program Directors;
- apply to any or all MDH programs, employees, grantees, contractors, or agents and
- are signed by and issued under the authority of the Secretary.
If you have any general questions regarding policies or procedures, please contact Jason Caplan , Acting Director, Office of Regulation and Policy Coordination at Jason Caplan 443-604-1857 (phone), 410-767-6483 (fax), or jason.caplan2@maryland.gov (email).