New research shows that the number of prescriptions written for stimulants and antidepressants is on the rise. Prescriptions for stimulants increased by 37.5% from 2019 to 2022, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. The number of antidepressant prescriptions also increased, jumping up by 21%. An increased share of stimulant and antidepressant […]
Category: Compliance
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 […]
The Biden administration has released its final rule updating mental health parity compliance for group and individual health plans. Released Monday, the final rule updates how federal agencies oversee whether health plans treat behavioral health benefits differently than physical health benefits. In short, it requires and spells out how health plans are to analyze nonquantitative […]
The district court judge over Wit v. United Behavioral Health has been ordered by the appeals court to come into compliance with its previous orders. The order, in addition to calling on the judge over the case to comply with previous rulings, puts to bed questions about reprocessing allegedly wrongfully denied claims. Once seen as […]
Inaccurate health plan directories, also known as ghost networks, can block patients from much-needed behavioral health care, drive up health care prices and keep providers from reaching potential clients. Regulations like the No Surprises Act that mandate more accurate health plan directories have largely failed, according to a new study published in BMC Health Services […]
A federal court has partially halted the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) near-total ban on noncompete agreements. On July 3, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas enjoined the final rule’s implementation, but only for the plaintiffs named in the case. The rule is set to take effect on Sept. 4, 2024, pending […]
As fentanyl proliferates the illicit drug market and opioid-related overdoses surge, access to the life-saving medication methadone is more critical than ever. Efforts to increase access to take-home methadone have paid off, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) cemented COVID-era flexibilities earlier this year. For substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers […]
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed the behavioral health industry a bag of uncertainty with the elimination of the decade’s old Chevron doctrine. The removal of the Chevron doctrine, a high-profile legal decision, makes it easier for behavioral health providers to poke holes in state and federal rules that rely on regulatory agencies’ interpretations of […]
Five U.S. states are now allowed to provide incarcerated people with coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) care and other services before their release. Medicaid traditionally does not provide SUD treatment to otherwise eligible people who are incarcerated in jails, prisons or youth correctional facilities. Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) […]
The U.S. Department of Labor has submitted its final rule that overhauls parity regulations for a final review at the White House, a last stop before its public release. It’s not clear when the rule will be released. If published as previously proposed, the new rule would revamp provisions implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete […]
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