Online medication management in Maryland with a nurse practitioner
A psychiatric evaluation and ongoing medication care with a licensed nurse practitioner, by video or phone, for ages 6 and up anywhere in Maryland.
No referral needed. Prescriptions sent to the pharmacy you choose.
- Fully licensed therapists, no supervision needed
- Licensed nurse practitioners for medication
- ABA led by a board certified behavior analyst
- Maryland Medicaid accepted
What's included
Medication management is ongoing psychiatric care to find out whether medication could help, choose the right one with you, and adjust it safely over time. It starts with a psychiatric evaluation of about 60 minutes with a licensed nurse practitioner, followed by shorter follow-up visits.
In the evaluation, your nurse practitioner reviews your current symptoms and how they affect daily life, your mental health and medical history, medications and supplements you take now or have tried, family history, sleep and substance use, and your goals. At the end, you get what they found and a recommended plan, which may or may not include medication.
Your nurse practitioner completes a full review of your history, symptoms, current medications and goals; explains your options clearly, including expected benefits and possible side effects; decides with you whether to start, change or stop a medication; orders labs or vital-sign checks when they are needed; and checks how things are going at each follow-up.
- ADHD in children, teens and adults
- Depression
- Anxiety and panic
- Bipolar disorder
- PTSD
- OCD symptoms
- Sleep problems related to mood
Medication alone, or with therapy
Medication management is its own service. You choose how it fits with the rest of your care.
If you already see a therapist outside Hearthway, you can keep them. If you don't have a therapist and would like one, our licensed clinicians see clients by video or phone from age 6.
For children and teens, a parent or guardian takes part in every visit and decisions are made together. We coordinate with school or the pediatrician with your permission. For adults, visits fit around work and family, with clear explanations of every option.
Some people come to us after trying medication elsewhere. Bring a list of what you've taken before and how it went; it helps your nurse practitioner avoid repeating something that didn't work.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Medication management only | Evaluation, then follow-ups every 2 to 12 weeks based on need |
| Medication plus therapy at Hearthway | Your nurse practitioner and therapist coordinate in one practice, with your permission |
| Medication here, therapy elsewhere | Keep your current therapist; with your permission we coordinate with them |
What drives the cost
The psychiatric evaluation is your intake visit and is billed like other visits. Follow-ups are shorter, 15 to 30 minutes, and how often you need them depends on how things are going: anywhere from every 2 weeks to every 12 weeks.
With Maryland Medicaid you can come to us directly, with no referral from your primary care provider. Medicaid mental health care is managed by Carelon Behavioral Health, and our office requests any approval needed. For other insurance, we check your coverage before your first visit. Self-pay rates are available by phone, and you can ask for a Good Faith Estimate.
When labs or vital-sign checks are needed, your nurse practitioner orders them and they are done at a lab or office near you.
The plain terms: a copay is a set amount per visit, coinsurance is a percentage you pay after your deductible, and a deductible is what you pay each year before your plan starts paying. We share an estimate after checking your benefits. If you need to cancel, please give at least 24 hours' notice so the time can go to someone else.
Medication care where it is hard to find
Psychiatric prescribers can be especially hard to reach in rural Maryland. Telehealth means no long drive for each visit, and short follow-ups fit into a workday or school day. We serve every Maryland county and Baltimore City, with a focus on Western Maryland, Southern Maryland and the Eastern Shore.
You need to be physically in Maryland during each visit, and prescriptions are sent to the pharmacy you choose. Every visit is with a licensed nurse practitioner who knows your history from the evaluation onward.
For a telehealth evaluation you'll need a private place where you can talk freely, a phone, tablet or computer with a camera for video or any phone for audio, a list of your current medications and your preferred pharmacy, and your insurance card. Join about five minutes early so your nurse practitioner can confirm where you are and a call-back number.
What to expect, including controlled medications
Your nurse practitioner explains your options clearly, including expected benefits and possible side effects, and decides with you whether to start, change or stop a medication. Changes are always discussed with you first.
Some medications, including some ADHD medications, are controlled substances with extra federal and state rules for telehealth prescribing. If one of these rules applies to you, your nurse practitioner explains what it means for your care before any decision is made. We can't promise any specific medication will be prescribed.
Medication can make symptoms more manageable so daily life, and therapy if you're in it, work better. It is not a promise of a specific result, and finding the right medication and dose can take a few follow-ups. Your nurse practitioner tells you what to watch for and when to expect changes, and you can raise concerns at any visit.
Your first visit takes about 60 minutes. At the end your nurse practitioner shares what they found and a recommended plan, which may or may not include medication, and you schedule your first follow-up.
Ongoing care and refills
At each follow-up your nurse practitioner checks how things are going and adjusts as needed. Refill requests are handled during business hours. With your permission, your nurse practitioner coordinates with your therapist and primary care provider.
If something changes between visits, such as a side effect that worries you, call our office during business hours. For a crisis, call or text 988, or call 911 in an emergency, because we are not an emergency service. Over time, follow-ups may be spaced further apart as things settle.
If you ever want a second opinion or a different nurse practitioner, tell our office. You stay in charge of your care, and changing clinicians is a normal request we're glad to help with.
How to get started
Step 1: Contact our office
Call (443) 824-4842 or send the form with your questions.
Step 2: Coverage check
We verify your insurance and explain any costs before you schedule.
Step 3: Psychiatric evaluation
About 60 minutes by video or phone with a licensed nurse practitioner. Have your medication list and pharmacy ready.
Step 4: Follow-up visits
15 to 30 minutes, every 2 to 12 weeks based on need.
Related services
- Online therapy
One-on-one therapy with a licensed clinician by secure video or phone, for children from age 6, teens and adults anywhere in Maryland.
- ADHD treatment
Medication management with a licensed nurse practitioner and therapy for ADHD, by video or phone, for children from age 6, teens and adults anywhere in Maryland.
- In-home ABA therapy
Applied behavior analysis in your home and community, led by a board certified behavior analyst, for Maryland Medicaid children and young adults under 21 with autism.
Further reading
- Psychiatrist vs therapist: which one do you need?
A therapist helps you understand what you're going through and build skills to handle it, through regular talk-based sessions.
Questions families ask
Who will I see for medication?
A licensed nurse practitioner, by video or phone.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can come to us directly, including with Maryland Medicaid.
Which pharmacy will my prescription go to?
The pharmacy you choose. Bring its name and address to your evaluation.
Can you prescribe ADHD medication by telehealth?
Some ADHD medications are controlled substances with extra telehealth rules. If a rule applies to you, your nurse practitioner explains what it means before any decision. We can't promise a specific medication.
Can I keep my current therapist?
Yes. You can use medication management on its own, alongside therapy with another provider.
Do you see children for medication?
Yes, from age 6. A parent or guardian takes part in visits and decisions are made together.
Request an appointment
Leave your details and our office will call you back during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern). Or call (443) 824-4842.
Please don't include medical history, diagnoses, Social Security numbers or insurance ID numbers.