When someone you love is living with a serious mental illness, finding the right support can feel like learning a new language. Terms like PRP, priority population, and medical necessity get used as if everyone already knows them. Most families don’t, and that is completely normal.
This guide explains PRP eligibility in Maryland in plain language: what a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program is, who qualifies, how Medicaid fits in, and how to get started.
What PRP Is, and What It Isn’t
A Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program (PRP) is a community-based service for adults living with serious mental illness. Instead of meeting in an office, PRP staff work with people in their homes and communities, helping them build the everyday skills that make independent living possible. Participants typically receive multiple visits each week. You can read more in What Is a PRP?
PRP works alongside therapy and psychiatric care. It does not replace them. A therapist or psychiatrist treats the illness; PRP helps the person apply that progress to daily life, such as keeping a routine, managing a household, keeping appointments, and staying connected to the community.
It also helps to know what PRP does not include. At Advocate, PRP staff do not provide transportation as a service and do not administer medication. They can help a person plan routines to take medications as prescribed and, with consent, share concerns with the treatment team.
Who Is Eligible for PRP in Maryland?
To receive adult PRP services through Advocate, a person generally needs to:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Have a diagnosed serious and persistent mental illness that meets Maryland’s priority population criteria
- Experience ongoing difficulty with daily functioning because of that illness, continuously or on and off, over an extended period
- Be actively receiving treatment from a mental health provider, such as a psychiatrist or licensed therapist
- Have a referral from a licensed mental health professional
- Live in a county we serve: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, Howard County, or Prince George’s County
- Want to participate, because PRP is voluntary
Finally, every new participant completes an assessment with our team to confirm that PRP is a good fit and meets medical necessity criteria. Our eligibility page lists each requirement in detail.
How Medicaid and Coverage Work
PRP services in Maryland are funded through the state’s public behavioral health system. In practice, that means:
- Most participants have Maryland Medical Assistance (Medicaid).
- No Medicaid yet? A person may still qualify as an uninsured individual through the state’s behavioral health system. Our team can point you to the right resources.
- Medicare and private insurance: Advocate does not accept Medicare or private insurance plans for PRP services.
- Authorization: once a person is eligible, services are authorized through Carelon Behavioral Health of Maryland, and we handle that paperwork.
If you are not sure what coverage your family member has, call us. Sorting out coverage questions is part of what our admissions team does every day. For a state overview, the Maryland Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration is a helpful starting point.
How to Get Started
- Talk with the treatment provider. Ask your family member’s therapist or psychiatrist whether PRP could help. They submit the referral.
- Or call us first. Self-referrals are welcome. If you contact us directly, we can help coordinate with the provider to obtain the required referral.
- Intake and assessment. Once we receive a referral, we aim to respond within 2 hours and call to schedule an intake and assessment.
- A personal plan. Together, we build a rehabilitation plan around the person’s own goals, and progress is tracked over time.
Questions Families Often Ask
Does my family member have to agree to PRP?
Yes. PRP is voluntary, and it works best when the person wants the support.
Can I stay involved?
Yes, with your family member’s consent. Many participants find it helpful when someone they trust is part of the conversation.
Where do visits happen?
In the person’s home and community: at the grocery store, the bank, the pharmacy, or wherever the skills they are building will be used.
Do you serve our area?
We serve adults across Central Maryland. See our service area for details on each county.
Is there more to read?
Yes. What Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services in Maryland Actually Do walks through what a typical week of support looks like. If services are approved, What to Expect in the First 30 Days explains how the first month works, and When Do You Qualify for PRP in Maryland covers eligibility in more detail.
Not Sure Where to Start?
You don’t need to have every answer before you reach out. Check eligibility or call our admissions team at (866) 277-2080, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Even if Advocate is not the right fit, we will do our best to connect you with resources that can help.