Proposed Bill Seeks to Increase Veterans’ Access to Marriage and Family Counseling Services

Lawmakers have introduced a new bill to Congress that would make it easier for veterans and their families to see Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Currently, the VA can hire LMFTs who are licensed through specific programs, including the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family […]

FDA Panel’s Rejection of MDMA Is ‘Speed Bump, Not Stop Sign,’ for Psychedelic Industry

The psychedelic industry learned important lessons when a Food and Drug Administration advisory committee voted to reject a landmark MDMA-based therapy designed to treat PTSD. The rejection shook investors and demonstrates that FDA approval for novel psychedelic drugs is further away than previously thought, but industry insiders remain confident in the industry’s long-term success. The […]

New Bill Aims to Boost Substance Use Treatment Funding for Older Adults

A newly introduced bill proposes to stack funds to improve substance use disorder (SUD) treatment for older adults.  The bill, called “The Preventing and Treating Substance Use Disorders Among Older Adults Act,” would establish a system of grants for entities that help provide addiction treatment for older adults. “Despite being more susceptible to developing substance […]

New Bill Would Mandate Free Mental, Substance Use Care for Perinatal People

Behavioral health-related issues, including suicide deaths and drug overdoses, are the leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in the U.S., accounting for over 22% of these losses. A new piece of legislation is on the table to help mitigate these statistics. The legislation, called “the Mental Health and Making Access More Affordable (MAMA) Act,” would require […]

What Cerebral, Monument’s FTC Fines Can Teach Other Behavioral Health Providers About Advertising Best Practices

The Federal Trade Commission’s recent actions against the digital behavioral health providers Cerebral and Monument are an expensive and very public reminder to all behavioral health providers to take caution when using digital tracking and other ad-tech tools. In April, the FTC released several complaints and orders, including fines and stipulations, to settle allegations about […]

FTC Noncompete Ban Presents Several Trade-Offs For Behavioral Health

In case you missed it, Behavioral Health Business has launched a new specialty publication for professionals in the substance use disorder space. You can subscribe to Addiction Treatment Business here: Subscribe today! Behavioral health providers and investors must prepare to lose noncompete agreements as a tool in their arsenal following the Federal Trade Commission’s expected ban on […]

Bill Proposes Enabling Same-Day Access to Physical and Mental Health Care for Kids on Medicaid

Lawmakers have introduced a new bill to Congress that would enable children with Medicaid to access physical and behavioral health care appointments on the same day. Dubbed the Improving CARE for Youth Act, the bill aims to improve access to behavioral health services for pediatric patients.  Congressman Dr. Neal Dunn (R-FL) and Congresswoman Angie Craig […]

CMS Finalizes New Behavioral Health Policies in Medicare Advantage

Federal regulators have been taking steps to hold private health insurance companies working within the Medicare program more accountable. Behavioral health continues to play an essential part in those efforts. One of the most recent moves came on Thursday, when the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a new set of policies […]

CMS Lacks Oversight of State Compliance with Mental Health Parity Rules for Medicaid Managed Care Plans

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid have fallen short in ensuring several states comply with Medicaid managed care mental health and substance use disorder parity requirements. That’s according to a new audit by the Office of Inspector General (OIG), which evaluated eight states with Medicaid managed care contracts. Four of the states in the review, […]