New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law directing two state agencies to establish a single set of licensing standards for integrated behavioral health services in outpatient centers. The measure, signed July 16, authorizes the commissioners of the state Office…
Government & Regulation
Hawaii and Vermont have become the latest states to expand prescribing authority for specially trained psychologists, bringing the total number of states that authorize the practice to nine, according to a July 15 news release from the American Psychological Association. …
Nearly four years after the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched, states, payers and county systems still define behavioral health crisis care inconsistently, and Medicare offers limited coverage for community-based crisis stabilization services — leaving safety-net funding, Medicaid, federal block…
HHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs entered into a memorandum of understanding July 13 to bolster collaboration on the research, clinical development and deployment of potential future psychedelic drug products for veterans with serious mental health conditions if approved…
New Mexico Health Care Authority awarded approximately $24.5 million to expand mental health, substance use disorder treatment and crisis services across all 13 behavioral health regions under the Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act, according to a June 30 news…
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California shifted all 58 counties to the Behavioral Health Services Act in July 2026, completing the transition approved by voters through Proposition 1 in 2024. The law replaced the Mental Health Services Act with a new behavioral health framework focused…
Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., sent a letter June 26 to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urging the Defense Department to act on a report regarding Tricare’s autism program. A September National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine…
Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services adopted a policy in June that classifies spit hoods as a form of restraint, requiring a physician’s order and triggering state and federal reporting requirements, The Seattle Times reported July 9. Here are…
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) selected four providers to operate Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in state-run service areas, according to a July 7 news release from the agency. Here are four things…
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has moved to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitagynine, known as 7-OH, and three related substances into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. 7-OH is a minor alkaloid that comprises less than 2% of the total alkaloid…