California has passed a law to improve residents’ access to behavioral health care coverage. It’s a move that could set the stage for nationwide change. The law in question defines “medical necessity” for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, no longer leaving it up to insurance companies to create their own definitions. California Gov. […]
Category: Commercial
In the past four years, health plans affiliated with Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) have more than doubled the percentage of members receiving whole-person medication assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD). Four years ago, the insurer found that only 18% of consumers were receiving both drug therapy and counseling services as part of their MAT […]
Recovery Centers of America (RCA) — a private equity-backed substance use disorder (SUD) treatment provider based in the Northeast — has opened its first Midwestern location. The new facility in suburban Chicago started accepting patients Tuesday. The organization plans to expand its presence in the heartland even further later this year. Based in St. Charles, […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the U.S., private and public payers rushed to cover telehealth, making it easier than ever for patients to receive behavioral health care. As a result, more than 80% of behavioral health organizations used telehealth for the first time amid the COVID-19 emergency, according to a recent survey by the digital […]
Amid the COVID-19 emergency, behavioral health providers are struggling. They’re grappling with increased costs and decreased revenues, while also seeing more demand for their services. As a result, 71% of organizations have had to cancel, reschedule or turn away patients over the past three months, according to a recent survey by the National Council for […]
Spero Health — a privately held substance use disorder treatment (SUD) provider with dozens of locations across five states — has opened a new clinic in Martinsville, Virginia. The facility is the sixth new center Spero Health has announced since the COVID-19 emergency began in mid-March. It’s all part of the provider’s plan to offer […]
Patients with behavioral health conditions in addition to physical ones drive nearly 57% of all health care spending; however, very little of that money goes toward treating behavioral conditions. That’s according to a new report from Milliman commissioned by The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use. The study was funded by the Mental […]
The American Psychological Association (APA) is asking states and insurers to temporarily remove roadblocks that make it harder for mental health providers to offer telehealth services. Doing so is especially important in light of COVID-19, the APA says. “This is an extraordinary public health crisis with vast and unpredictable implications for the nation’s mental health,” […]
While more and more employers are offering mental health benefits, that doesn’t always translate into opportunities for traditional behavioral health providers. Many companies opt to provide the benefits through app-based solutions that specialize in remote coaching and stress-reduction, with trendy startups like Headspace and Ginger winning business from corporate giants such as Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX), […]
A care optimization platform that helps patients, providers and health plans navigate substance use disorder (SUD) has raised $15 million in Series C funding. The money will be used to accelerate axialHealthcare’s expansion into the SUD treatment and recovery sector, according to a press release announcing the news. Oak HC/FT, .406 Ventures, BlueCross BlueShield Venture […]