States are advancing several behavioral health policy changes, from syringe service program restrictions in Indiana to Medicaid reimbursement debates in Maryland and workforce reforms in Oregon. Here are six updates to know: 1. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves signed legislation to…
Government & Regulation
Mississippi will fund clinical trials for ibogaine, a psychedelic drug, under legislation signed by Gov. Tate Reeves, the DeSoto County News reported March 19. The law calls for the Mississippi State Department of Health to establish a partnership to study…
Lawmakers have introduced the Mental Health Workforce Act to address workforce shortages and expand diversity among mental health providers. The bill aims to increase the number of providers and expand the pipeline of diverse professionals, according to a March 19…
President Donald Trump’s Jan. 29 executive order, “Addressing Addiction through the Great American Recovery Initiative,” aimed to reshape the nation’s response to addiction by emphasizing evidence-based treatment, long-term recovery and coordination across sectors — priorities that align with existing best…
Nursing homes inappropriately diagnosed residents with schizophrenia and administered antipsychotic drugs to manage behavior — in some cases for the benefit of staff — according to two March 2026 reports from the HHS Office of Inspector General. Both reports are…
Advertisement
Sen. Bernie Sanders,I-Vt., is urging Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, R-La., chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, to hold a hearing on vaccine misinformation and autism. Mr. Sanders, the ranking member of the senate committee, called…
States are moving to reduce Medicaid payments for applied behavioral analysis therapy as spending on the autism treatment surges, KFF Health News reported Dec. 23. Applied behavioral analysis therapy, or ABA therapy, is a research-based behavioral therapy for children with…
California plans to invest $1.18 billion in behavioral health facilities, raising the state’s commitment to its broader initiative of increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment to nearly $4.2 billion. The additional investment will fund 66 projects…
The FDA has approved a new use for Wellcovorin, or leucovorin calcium tablets, to treat cerebral folate deficiency, after initiating efforts to expand approval for autism-related symptoms. The approval marks the first FDA-approved treatment for the rare genetic disease, which…
Indiana legislation allowing counties to continue syringe service programs — while adding restrictions — will potentially become law as Gov. Mike Braun said he does not plan to sign the bill, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported March 9. The legislation allows…