Becker’s Behavioral Health

It has been noted that the biggest problem with behavioral health referrals is that most patients, regardless of insurance coverage, do not make it into specialty care after they are referred.1 Low completion rates may be due to lack of…

Behavioral healthcare made up 40% of all medical spending for U.S. children in 2022 — nearly double the share from 2011 — according to a study published Dec. 15 in JAMA Pediatrics. The findings highlight sharp increases in out-of-pocket costs…

Mercy, based in Chesterfield, Mo., has scaled a virtual behavioral health division across four states, serving 35 hospitals and delivering psychiatric interventions to patients in crisis.  The model enables rapid evaluation of behavioral health patients, reduces unnecessary inpatient admissions and…

Art Kleinschmidt, PhD, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is departing his role for another position within the administration, HHS officials confirmed to Becker’s on Dec. 12. Christopher Carroll, SAMHSA’s Deputy Assistant Secretary,…

Behavioral health extends far beyond the walls of a hospital. From housing to nutrition, when a patient’s everyday needs are unmet, their mental health can suffer.  At Hampton Roads, Va.-based Sentara, Tracey Izzard, vice president of behavioral health services, noticed…

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Psychiatric Medical Care, a provider of intensive outpatient care for older adults, seized the opportunity to invest in youth mental health amid the COVID-19 pandemic as behavioral health cases rose.  CEO Paul Smith Jr. and Chief Clinical Officer…

Healthcare workers face elevated rates of depression, burnout and suicide, yet many are reluctant to seek mental health treatment due to stigma, licensing concerns and limited access, Pew reported Dec. 11. Here are five things to know about the risks and…

The Education Department has awarded over $208 million in new grants to expand mental health services in schools. The funds were distributed to 65 recipients, with more than $120 million of the total going to support rural states and school…

Although the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Act became law in 2008, behavioral health providers have been voicing concerns over enforcement. From improper use of prior authorizations to inadequate documentation, health insurers have been fined for violating parity laws.  Here…

Cincinnati-based Mercy Health and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Lifepoint Behavioral Health opened a new inpatient behavioral health hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, through a joint venture announced in 2023. The new Mercy Health Behavioral Hospital spans nearly 62,000 square feet and includes 72…