Medicaid payment shifts, telepsych growth and expansion plans lead today’s behavioral health news

February 17, 2026

1. 'Psychiatry is so variable': SSM Health navigates fixed-rate Medicaid payments Full story

2. How telehealth is reshaping psychiatric care in rural West Virginia Full story

3. Behavioral health innovation requires more than best practices — it demands bold leadership. Join 300+ executives exploring integrated care models, social determinants of health and workforce strategies at Becker's Behavioral Health Summit. Apply for complimentary participation here.

 

4. Stella Mental Health opens 2nd Massachusetts clinic Full story

5. Advocate Health invests in affordable housing initiative Full story

6.  Where cognitive testing falls short — Encompass Health and CommonSpirit explain the gap here

 

7. 10 behavioral health executive moves to know Full story

8. UnitedHealth CEO privately invested in potential competitors: Wall Street Journal Full story

9. 'That approach is no longer good enough': Ascension CEO rethinks care delivery model as uninsured volumes rise Full story

10. Houston Methodist rolls out Ambience Healthcare AI platform enterprisewide Full story

 

Becker's Learning Opportunities

11. Only 8% of behavioral health organizations have AI governance in place. Why it matters: here.

12. Keeping patients local for advanced neurological care — Sharp HealthCare shows how, here.

13. Behavioral health demand is overwhelming hospitals. Is telepsychiatry the answer? 20 criteria to review first: here.

14. Interested in more? See Becker’s full lineup of webinars and whitepapers.

 

 

Apply to attend complimentary as a guest reviewer here! Opportunity exclusive to those directly employed by a provider organization.

 
 
 

 

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