California Gov. Gavin Newsom made a key change to his mental health proposal by dropping the requirement for addiction services as a mandatory benefit, making one of the core provisions optional, according to an Aug. 24 report from Politico.

The DEA recognized Aug. 21 as National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day to address the country's "most dangerous drug threat," Anne Milgram, DEA administrator, said in an Aug. 17 news release from the DEA.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has tweaked his mental health proposal that could determine the state's mental healthcare spending over the next 20 years, according to an Aug. 16 report from Politico.

The Biden administration has awarded more than $88 million in grants to support youth mental health and substance use disorder treatment programs.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek has signed four mental health bills into law, FOX affiliate KPTV reported Aug. 8.

Members of the U.S. Congress introduced the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act to implement EHR systems behavioral healthcare.

Here are five regulation updates Becker's reported on in July:

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention endorsed President Joe Biden's new proposal that would enforce the requirement that private insurance companies offer the same level of coverage for mental health and physical health needs. 

The Biden Administration has proposed a rule that would require private insurance companies to offer the same level of coverage for mental health needs as they do for physical health needs, ABC News reported July 25.

CMS approved California and Kentucky's requests for implementing community-based mobile crisis intervention teams to provide Medicaid-covered mental health and substance use crisis services, making a total of six states to adopt these crisis services.

A bipartisan bill that would require the implementation of a mental health and wellness program for law enforcement employees within the Department of Homeland Security advanced out of a House committee, according to a July 14 report from Government Executive.

CMS's new proposed rule seeks to expand behavioral healthcare under Medicare by creating an intensive outpatient program for psychiatric services.

In the wake of Mental Health Awareness Month and Pride Month, the U.S. Education Department is drawing attention to the youth members of the LGBTQ+ community living in rural areas who are left with limited access to mental health services.

The majority of Medicare Advantage plans significantly limit access to psychiatrists, as their psychiatrist networks encompass less than 25 percent of all available psychiatrists in a given area, according to a study published July 5 in Health Affairs.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a proposal to allocate $100 million in federal funds to pay for adult mental health services in the state, according to a report from ABC affiliate WHTM.

Nebraska legislators have unanimously passed a bill that would allow state agencies to follow the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Model, ABC affiliate NTV reported May 22. 

The Biden administration rolled out critical actions on national mental health May 18 in recognition of Mental Health Day of Action.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has signed a bill that permits mental and behavioral healthcare providers to operate within emergency shelters that serve people experiencing homelessness.

The Ohio State University in Columbus is the first U.S. university awarded a license by the Drug Enforcement Agency to grow psilocybin mushrooms, The Columbus Dispatch reported May 10.

Behavioral health is projected to be one of the fastest-growing areas in healthcare, by market value, over the next few years. Those projections may fall short, however, if provider shortages and other key obstacles aren't addressed.