Becker’s Behavioral Health

In West Virginia, 50 of 55 counties are federally designated mental health professional shortage areas, and some families must travel two to four hours for specialty behavioral healthcare — if it is available at all. Keri Law, MD, a child…

As the push to integrate behavioral health into primary and specialty care gains momentum, several health systems are appointing new leaders to oversee this transformation. These executives are tasked with aligning behavioral health strategies across clinical settings, building out service…

Despite the high prevalence of substance use disorders among hospitalized patients, hospital-based addiction care across the U.S. remains inconsistent, a Cedars-Sinai behavioral health leader told Becker’s. “What’s not variable is the prevalence of alcohol and substance use disorders in hospitals,”…

Under a bill proposed in February to the General Assembly, commercial health insurers in Illinois would be required to assist in paying the state $100 million, an estimated total to assist in covering behavioral health crisis services. The crisis resources…

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, a safety-net hospital in Paramus, N.J., has completed an expansion of its emergency department that increased capacity from 19 to 47 treatment beds, with a significant focus on behavioral healthcare.  The expansion more than doubles…

The Louisiana Department of Health has launched Project M.O.M. — abbreviated for “Maternal Overdose Mortality” — with 11 inaugural catalyst site hospitals.  The project aims to reduce maternal mortality rates associated with substance use by 80% within three years through…

The state of Ohio is directing $20 million to support six children’s wellness campuses across the state.  The funds will be used to create four new child wellness campuses and expand two existing campuses. The facilities aim to provide short-term…

Wernersville, Pa.-based Caron Treatment Centers has opened a gambling disorder track at its home campus, also in Wernersville, expanding access to care for patients with gambling disorder and co-occurring behavioral health conditions.   The track is designed to complement substance use…

As behavioral health volumes rise and emergency departments contend with unpredictable medical surges, leaders at WellSpan’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Lebanon, Pa., implemented flexible-use rooms in its emergency department that can convert between medical and behavioral healthcare.  “We’ve seen a…

Baton Rouge, La.-based Beacon Behavioral Partners has partnered with Carolina Psychiatry, a practice serving Anderson, Greenville, Seneca and Spartanburg, S.C.  The partnership aims to allow Carolina Psychiatry to “gain operational support to continue growing responsibly while preserving clinical autonomy,” Taral…