Prospective HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been outspoken about providing more resources to substance use treatment, but is critical of medication treatments for mental health conditions.
Government & Regulation
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed institutionalizing people with mental illness and increasing federal support for faith-based counseling as part of his mental health policy proposals.
CMS will implement new behavioral health reimbursement policies in 2025, and the Biden administration has finalized rules toughening mental health parity requirements for insurers.
CMS will add Medicare reimbursement for additional behavioral health services in 2025.
Around half of states plan to increase Medicaid payment rates for outpatient behavioral health providers in fiscal year 2025, according to KFF's annual survey of state Medicaid programs.
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The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards has scrapped a plan to create a new, second part to the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is set to extend rules that allow controlled substances to be prescribed through telehealth, Politico reported Oct. 15.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed four bills aimed at improving access to behavioral healthcare in the state, specifically for those facing mental health issues and substance use disorders.
The House of Representatives passed a bill authorizing $1.95 billion in funding for autism spectrum disorder research.
Texas psychiatric hospitals are pushing the state for higher Medicaid reimbursement rates, The Texas Tribune reported Sept. 19.