Government & Regulation

Tougher requirements for insurers to cover mental health services at parity with medical care received praise from advocacy groups but could face legal challenges from employers. 

The Biden Administration has finalized rules requiring insurers to cover mental healthcare at the same level as other health services. 

Sen. Ron Wyden says he is "hard at work" drafting legislation to regulate residential behavioral treatment facilities. 

Here are three mental treatment updates that affect the field of behavioral health, as reported by Becker's since April 11:

Both major party nominees for president offer scant details on how they would handle mental health. 

U.S. lawmakers are pushing the FDA to approve MDMA, more commonly known as ecstasy or molly, to treat post-traumatic stress disorder. 

CMS will bump inpatient psychiatric payments slightly in 2025. 

The Joint Commission is updating its accreditation manual for behavioral health and human services providers to include an updated definition of "restraint," among other changes. 

HHS will put $2.5 million toward developing a multistate social worker license compact. 

Illinois will ban prior authorization for inpatient mental health treatment.