73% of Sampled OTPs in Massachusetts Fall Short of Federal, State Requirements

Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) are the door to evidence-based medication for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).  Current regulations may not be strong enough to keep these facilities in compliance with requirements that prevent overpayment for services and ensure that patients receive the most appropriate treatment. An audit conducted by the Department of Health and […]

Medicaid Rates for Autism Therapy on the Rise, But Regulatory Challenges Persist

Medicaid reimbursement rates are largely trending upward for autism therapy providers, but burdensome regulations still pose significant hurdles to growth.  To overcome these challenges and improve rates, all players in the autism therapy industry, including private equity firms, must become involved in advocacy work, industry insiders said at the Behavioral Health Business Autism & Addiction […]

Universal Health Services Looking to Get Behavioral Health Margins Back to Pre-COVID Levels

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) is looking to get its behavioral health margins back to pre-COVID times. Reductions in labor costs, enhanced productivity and a bump in patient volume are among the factors that will support that goal, according to Steve Filton, the company’s chief financial officer. “We had originally set a target for [2024] […]

LifeStance Poised for M&A Comeback After Efficiency Overhaul

After a year and a half of scale-backs and tempered growth, LifeStance Health (Nasdaq: LFST) is planning a return to M&A. The target for that comeback: 2026. LifeStance is still completing processes designed to improve efficiency, David Bourdon, the company’s chief financial officer, said at the 22nd Annual Morgan Stanley Healthcare Conference on Wednesday. Along […]

Missed Opportunities: Nearly 25% of Overdose Deaths Had Chance for Intervention 

Behavioral health operators and regulators have largely advocated integrating substance use disorder (SUD) screenings and primary care to improve access to treatment. New evidence underscores the importance of this integration and the extent to which mental health and substance use overlap. More than 20% of people who die of drug overdoses also have mental health […]

Shared Savings in Behavioral Health: A Realistic Approach to Value-Based Care

Fee-for-service reimbursement models incentivize behavioral health providers to deliver more services – in some instances, even when medically unnecessary, some would point out. Value-based care – paying for quality and outcomes instead of volume – has been heralded as the behavioral health industry’s path away from fee-for-service models. Challenges, including tension between health plans and […]

Unlocking Better Outcomes: Data-Driven Measurement’s Role in Substance Use Disorder Treatment

Measurement-based care has been hailed by payers and providers as essential to promoting evidence-based, individualized treatment. Substance use disorder (SUD) providers hoping to craft new reimbursement arrangements or improve patient outcomes must establish robust internal measurement systems. Collecting patient data alone does not drive change, however. Providers must also leverage their findings to adjust treatment […]

SUD Treatment Providers Brace for Changes as Telehealth Flexibilities Near Expiration Date

The federal government has extended COVID-era telehealth flexibilities twice since their creation. These flexibilities are now set to expire in December 2024, putting “life-saving” care at risk, behavioral health industry insiders caution. Some substance use disorder (SUD) providers are now making plans to pivot their clinical models if flexibilities are not cemented, partnering with local […]

Soar Autism Center Secures $19M Funding Round 

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) and autism diagnosis provider Soar Autism Center has clinched $19.3 million in a funding round. The provider was seeking a total of $20 million, according to SEC documents. Denver, Colorado-based Soar Autism Center provides applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy based on the early start Denver model (ESDM) to children aged 6 and […]