Behavioral and physical health are intertwined, yet health systems are still developing effective alternatives to address emergency care for mental health. While every healthcare worker is trained in CPR for physical crises such as heart attacks, many may not be…
Behavioral Health
Washington state has fined Kaiser Foundation Health Plan $300,000 for failing to comply with federal mental health parity requirements, though $100,000 of that amount is suspended. The enforcement action came after Kaiser couldn’t provide adequate documentation on provider admission standards…
As behavioral health needs surge across the U.S., healthcare systems are embedding services into primary and emergency care settings to improve access, reduce wait times and connect patients with appropriate mental health support. Here are six systems and how they…
In 2019, Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth made a $150 million investment in behavioral health. The initiative aimed to build capacity across its continuum of care — inpatient, outpatient, crisis services, virtual care and primary care integration — with the goal of…
Omaha-based Children’s Nebraska opened its new Behavioral Health and Wellness Center on Jan. 7 with a continuum of care designed to meet families at every level of need, Renee Rafferty, senior vice president of the center, told Becker’s. “We’re in…
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Young people’s mental health has been a pressing issue in recent years. With Medicaid as the country’s largest payer for mental health services, the program’s role is all the more essential. The National Academy for State Health Policy evaluated state…
A Colorado law leveling behavioral and physical health in insurance coverage went into effect Jan. 1, preventing carriers in the state from limiting the “medically necessary treatment” of behavioral, mental health and substance use disorders. The law was passed in…
Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham set the goal of expanding new patient access in excess of 5%. In fiscal year 2025, the system delivered more than 23,000 new patient visits, representing a roughly 10% to 11% increase translating to about…
Switching from Medicare Advantage to traditional Medicare was associated with increased mental health visits, along with a shift toward nurse practitioners and away from emergency and internal medicine specialists, according to a December study published in the American Journal of Managed…
Behavioral health leaders are entering the new year with a shared sense of urgency and a renewed commitment to transforming how care is delivered, funded and supported. From strengthening the continuum of care to building virtual reality programs for youth…