Know who does what
Does the person have to be a doctor?
Ask who is making the treatment decision, what their role is and how to reach them. A job title on a website is a starting point for that conversation.
Who can assess and prescribe?
What can a nurse practitioner do?
A nurse practitioner is a nurse qualified to assess health problems and prescribe medicines. As of September 28, 2026, Maryland lets nurse practitioners diagnose common long-term problems that are stable and short-term health problems. Stable means not changing much. They can prescribe without a written agreement with a doctor, while following the standards for their qualifications.
A nurse practitioner seeking certification for the first time in any state must name an experienced nurse practitioner or doctor to consult. That support lasts 18 months from the application date. It does not apply to someone already certified as a nurse practitioner in another state.
Ask about the person's experience with your health concern. Ask when they would seek help from a doctor or another health professional.
What is different for a physician assistant?
Maryland rules checked September 28, 2026, require a physician assistant (PA) to have an agreement in writing with the doctor or doctors they work with.
The PA must notify the board of that agreement before practising.
That agreement must say whether the physician assistant may write prescriptions.
The written agreement describes how the physician assistant and doctors work together. Ask who can help if your health problem is beyond what the physician assistant can treat.
What matters beyond the title?
- Who will assess me and sign any prescription?
- What experience do they have with the problem I describe?
- Who answers questions between visits?
- Who takes over if that person is away?
- How can I ask for another opinion?
Keep the answers with the person's name and licence details. If several people are involved, ask each person's part in the plan.
Go to the Maryland licence checks