Government & Regulation

Proposed federal Medicaid work requirements will include some exceptions for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders.  The House passed President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act on May 22. The package includes significant cuts to Medicaid.  The…

HHS, the Department of Labor and the Treasury will not enforce new mental health parity rules for 18 months after litigation challenging them is settled, according to a May 15 statement.  In a May 9 court filing, HHS said it…

Franklin, Tenn.-based Acadia Healthcare CEO Chris Hunter is optimistic efforts to scale back Medicaid spending will not affect the majority of its patient population.  On a May 13 earnings call, Mr. Hunter told investors the company is “far from having…

The Trump administration’s decision to not enforce certain mental health parity regulations could hurt access to care, a group of mental health organizations has argued.  In a May 13 statement, six mental health and substance use advocacy organizations said they…

Reductions in Medicaid funding could lead more hospitals to close their inpatient psychiatric units, KFF Health News reported May 12.  At least 100 inpatient mental health units have closed in the past decade, according to the American Hospital Association, and…

HHS will not enforce mental health parity regulations implemented by the Biden administration while it reconsiders the rules, according to a May 9 court filing.  In January, the ERISA Industry Committee, a group representing large employers, sued to block the…

A group of nearly 100 U.S. representatives has formed the Congressional Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus.  The bipartisan caucus is led by Reps. Andrea Salinas, Don Bacon, Don Beyer and Tony Gonzales.  “The mental health caucus exists to raise awareness, reduce…

States are passing legislation aimed at enforcing mental health parity standards and funding workforce initiatives.  Here are eight notable behavioral health policy updates since March 2:

Growing up on Long Island, I was fortunate to receive care from some of the country’s best doctors. Around the dinner table, many healthcare discussions also took place among relatives who were medical providers: an aunt with her own primary…

A bevy of mental health programs are on the chopping block at HHS, according to a leaked draft budget obtained by The Washington Post.  The proposal would slash the HHS’ budget by 30%, the Post reported April 16.  The 64-page…