Headspace is broadening its reach by offering its mental health coaching services, previously exclusive to its business-to-business segment, directly to individual consumers. Several digital health companies started in the direct-to-consumer space and have since focused their efforts on their B2B business. Now, Headspace is expanding in the opposite direction, taking its B2B coaching product and […]
Despite federal parity laws, new research shows that behavioral health clinicians are reimbursed at rates 22% lower than medical and surgical clinicians. A new study from nonprofit research institute RTI International may provide behavioral health operators with the evidence to meet with payers to boost reimbursement rates and increase patients’ access to behavioral health services. […]
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is keeping details about its behavioral health strategy close to the chest. The health care and insurance company highlighted that its behavioral health business was thriving just a few quarters ago in its Q2 2023 earnings call. Now, despite recently expanding its behavioral health segment, the company is highlighting other aspects […]
A federal appeals court revived a lawsuit alleging UnitedHealthcare violated federal behavioral health parity and insurance fiduciary laws. On April 11, the appeals court remanded parity and fiduciary claims to a California district court. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the lower court erred in dismissing those claims but affirmed a separate question […]
The financial stability of private therapy practices is increasingly precarious, with the majority of therapists reporting anxiety over the current economic climate. Almost 85% of private practice therapists are concerned about the economy impacting their practice in 2024, according to a survey conducted by mental health-focused accounting startup Heard. Despite these concerns, most therapists said […]
Payers and providers are increasingly pushing for more measurement-based care in behavioral health. However, in order for the change to work, key stakeholders, including clinicians and other behavioral health providers, need to buy in. This puts the onus on operators to make it easier for clinicians to implement measurement-based care, and for payers to foster […]
Inaccurate provider directories, known as “ghost networks,” can land patients with shocking bills and cause providers to miss out on potential patients. Ghost networks have increasingly come under fire by policymakers aiming to hold health plans accountable and protect patients. A new bill, introduced last week by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) and Ron Wyden […]
2024 could prove pivotal for virtual behavioral health as the federal government considers making COVID-era telehealth flexibilities permanent. Federal and state regulations can heavily influence the availability of behavioral telehealth appointments. For behavioral health providers who provide care to Medicaid beneficiaries, or who prescribe controlled substances for conditions like substance use disorders (SUDs), regulations can […]
Last week Cigna’s (NYSE:CI) health service division Evernorth furthered its reach into the mental health sector with the launch of a new behavioral health group. The hybrid behavioral health group, launched with over 1,000 clinicians, will focus on value-based and measurement-based care. Using virtual provider Octave’s technology suite, Evernorth plans to fully scale the service […]
Cigna’s (NYSE:CI) health service division Evernorth has launched a new behavioral health care group. Evernorth Behavioral Health Group will launch with over 1,000 clinicians and guarantee patients an appointment within 72 hours. According to Evernorth data, the industry average wait time is 48 days. “When I think about the impetus of the care group, it’s […]
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