Congress cannot allow telehealth flexibilities for behavioral health implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic to expire, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said.
Government & Regulation
President Joe Biden's $7.3 trillion proposed budget for fiscal year 2025 includes several investments in mental health and substance use treatment.
President Joe Biden's mental health priorities include toughening mental health coverage standards for insurers and funding community providers.
CMS will allow more types of behavioral providers to receive Medicaid funding.
New York is proposing appointment wait time standards and network adequacy requirements for behavioral healthcare.
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Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing the state ban prior authorization for inpatient mental healthcare for children and adults.
Maryland has selected Elevance Health's Carelon to administer mental health and substance use disorder services under its public behavioral health system, which is currently administered by UnitedHealth's Optum. Optum did not submit a bid to be considered for the new contract.
HHS is introducing new flexibilities designed to make telehealth treatment for opioid use disorder easier to access and adding new rules aimed at improving confidentiality.
HHS will implement new rules designed to improve confidentiality for patients receiving treatment for substance use disorder and integrate records for these treatments with standard medical records.
A lawsuit against Washington County, Ore., is alleging that the county did not provide equal access to emergency services for people with mental health needs.