A Connecticut law that took effect July 1 expands eligibility for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services’ psychedelic-assisted therapy pilot program at New Haven, Conn.-based Yale University. The pilot program was launched in 2022 through a partnership between…
Government & Regulation
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed House Bill 2635 and Senate Bill 430 into law, making kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, Schedule I controlled substances effective July 1. The new law designates the substances as having a high potential…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill June 29 that expands judicial discretion in the state’s mental health diversion program, changing the public safety standard courts apply when evaluating diversion requests. The law removes a legal standard that limited courts’…
Minnesota is seeking federal approval to participate in the CMS Reentry Services Demonstration, a program that allows state Medicaid programs to cover behavioral healthcare services and chronic disease care for incarcerated people up to 90 days before release, according to…
The New Mexico Department of Justice opened a formal investigation into allegations that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration knowingly allowed fentanyl pills to be distributed in New Mexico communities. Attorney General Raúl Torrez said the investigation followed Gov. Michelle Lujan…
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Sens. Edward Markey, D-Mass., and Rand Paul, MD, R-Ky., on June 25 reintroduced legislation that would allow board-certified physicians to prescribe methadone for opioid use disorder and pharmacies to dispense the medication, according to a news release from Mr. Markey’s…
Clinicians and advocacy groups are pressing Congress on two major legislative efforts to better support the nation’s healthcare workforce: a proposed tax credit for healthcare providers practicing in shortage areas and a push to fund the only federal law dedicated…
Community Behavioral Health, a Medicaid behavioral health managed care plan in Philadelphia, didn’t meet federal and state requirements around prior authorization denials, according to a June audit report from HHS’ Office of Inspector General. CBH received about $1.28 billion in…
California’s new nurse-to-patient staffing ratios at acute, freestanding psychiatric hospitals took effect June 1, and in the early days of implementation, 65 beds — roughly half of them youth beds — across four counties were closing in the state. Facilities…
The American Psychiatric Association and American Psychological Association Services sent a joint letter to Aetna on June 4 urging the insurer to halt reimbursement rate reductions for behavioral health services delivered through Alma-affiliated clinicians. Alma is a platform that connects…