Minnesota raised the legal age to purchase kratom from 18 to 21, marking the state’s first major law regulating the substance, effective Aug. 1, MPR News reported Aug. 3. The drug is derived from a tropical tree native to Southeast…
Government & Regulation
Legal Action Center submitted two comment letters, endorsed by 89 other health and justice advocacy organizations, urging CMS to withdraw two Medicaid proposals that would limit behavioral healthcare access. The letters challenge a proposed rule that would cap certain Medicaid…
San Francisco adopted legislation requiring all newly city-funded permanent supportive housing expansions to operate as drug-free sites where illicit drug use is prohibited. The ordinance, signed by Mayor Daniel Lurie on July 29, will take effect after 30 days. Here…
CMS finalizes payment rules for inpatient psychiatric, skilled nursing facilities: 12 things to know
CMS issued its fiscal year 2027 final payment rules for skilled nursing facilities and inpatient psychiatric facilities July 29. The rules update Medicare payment rates and revise quality reporting, value-based purchasing and patient assessment policies. Twelve things to know: Skilled…
As HHS hosts payers and medical associations in Washington, D.C., it will introduce a pledge July 29 to advance mental health and addiction care nationwide. Optum CEO Patrick Conway, MD, told Becker’s on July 27 that his company will be the first…
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The anxiety among healthcare leaders is widespread. Sixty-six percent of healthcare finance leaders now name Medicaid cuts their top concern, according to Strata’s latest survey — ahead of labor costs, payer negotiations and everything else. HR 1 is projected to…
The Trump administration has stepped up enforcement of federal hospital price transparency rules, sending warning letters and corrective action requests to hundreds of hospitals nationwide, including three behavioral health facilities in the Chicago suburbs, the Chicago Tribune reported July 27. …
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released new data tracking programs created and expanded through the state’s $1 billion mental health initiative launched in 2023 and additional investments. The New York State Office of Mental Health compiled information spanning 23 areas…
On July 14, President Donald Trump nominated Timothy Westlake, MD, of Wisconsin, to serve as assistant secretary for mental health and substance use at HHS — the position that oversees the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Dr. Westlake…
The California Department of Public Health will hold a stakeholder meeting July 23 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to gather feedback on emergency regulations establishing nurse-to-patient staffing standards for acute psychiatric hospitals. Here are three things to know: Read…