A group of nearly 100 U.S. representatives has formed the Congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus. The bipartisan caucus is led by Reps. Andrea Salinas, Don Bacon, Don Beyer and Tony Gonzales. “The mental health caucus exists to raise awareness, reduce…
Government & Regulation
States are passing legislation aimed at enforcing mental health parity standards and funding workforce initiatives. Here are eight notable behavioral health policy updates since March 2:
Growing up on Long Island, I was fortunate to receive care from some of the country’s best doctors. Around the dinner table, many healthcare discussions also took place among relatives who were medical providers: an aunt with her own primary…
A bevy of mental health programs are on the chopping block at HHS, according to a leaked draft budget obtained by The Washington Post. The proposal would slash the HHS’ budget by 30%, the Post reported April 16. The 64-page…
CMS is proposing a 2.4% bump in payments to inpatient psychiatric facilities in 2026. The agency published its proposed payments for inpatient psychiatric facilities April 11. The proposed increase would be slightly lower than the 2.8% increase inpatient facilities received…
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New federal legislation would put resources toward formalizing pathways for peer support specialists. Sens. Tim Kaine and Jim Banks introduced the PEER Support Act April 8, according to a news release from Mr. Kaine. The bipartisan bill is backed by…
Mental health organizations have expressed concern that staffing cuts at HHS and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration could upend progress made on mental health challenges. In March, HHS announced plans to layoff 10,000 employees and eventually cut…
Washington state lawmakers are mulling legislation that would tax businesses running social media platforms to fund youth behavioral health programs, The Olympian reported April 8. If passed, the legislation would tax businesses operating social media sites. Revenues generated from the…
House lawmakers have introduced legislation to boost Medicare reimbursement for integrated behavioral health services with primary care. Reps. Lizzie Fletcher, Nicole Malliotakis, August Pfluger and Steven Horsford introduced the Connecting Our Medical Providers with Links to Expand Tailored and Effective…
State agencies are assessing the effects of $1 billion in canceled mental health funding. On March 26, HHS canceled $1 billion in Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration funding and $11.4 billion in funding for the CDC. The canceled…