UnitedHealth CEO Exit: Implications for Behavioral Health Under Renewed Value-Based Focus

UnitedHealth Group’s (NYSE: UNH) CEO Andrew Witty has announced his plans to step down after leading the health care giant through a period of turmoil, citing “personal reasons.” The company’s former CEO, Stephen Hemsley, will return to the role effective immediately. In addition to his leadership role, Hemsley will remain the chairman of UnitedHealth Group’s […]

Trump Tracker: The Latest Behavioral Health Updates

Behavioral health is in the political crosshairs. This series tracks the Trump administration’s proposed policy changes, funding cuts and structural overhauls that could reshape behavioral health care in the U.S. From HHS reorganizations to Medicaid shifts, we’re following what matters — and what’s at stake — for providers, payers and investors. (Last update: May 8, […]

Trump Administration Autism Data Platform to Focus on ‘Root Causes’ Using Medical Records, Insurance Claims and Wearables

Trump administration health care officials on Wednesday revealed further information about plans to create an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) data bank – a project that has sparked a mix of support, skepticism and alarm from autism-community stakeholders. On May 7, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new “landmark” partnership with […]

CMS Releases Updated Medicare Payment Rate, Tweaks to Reporting Requirements for Psychiatric Facilities

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a slight rate increase and a bucketful of other tweaks to the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System and quality reporting provisions related to Medicare payments. CMS said Friday that it is proposing an increase to psychiatric facilities prospective payments via Medicare by 2.4%, net of […]

PE-Backed PAX Health Acquires Harris Psychiatric Services

Private equity-backed behavioral health provider PAX Health has acquired Harris Psychiatry Services, a psychiatric care provider specializing in workers’ compensation. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. PAX Health was formed in March 2024 by merging three behavioral health companies: Behavioral Medicine Associates (BMA), Workers Compensation Psychological Network (WCPN) and Reservoir Health. The company […]

Talkspace’s Medicare, Tricare Deals Expand Free Access, Marketing Hurdles Remain

Thanks to Talkspace’s (NASDAQ: TALK) new partnerships with public payers, Tricare and Medicare, more individuals now have free access to the company’s assets. The tricky part is garnering awareness about the services.   Talkspace is also set to cover 200 million lives and is working to improve awareness that its services may be free for many […]

Senior-Focused Behavioral Health Solution Launches with $4M in Seed Funding

Vitalic, a new senior-focused behavioral health provider, has hit the market with $4 million in seed funding. Payvider VNS Health and venture capital investment firm Redesign Health are the company’s first investors. Vitalic’s virtual care model focuses on geriatric psychiatry, including therapy, coaching and medication management. “Despite the fact that this population continues to grow, […]

CMS to Limit Medicare Advantage Cost Sharing for Behavioral Health Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has prioritized equitable behavioral health care access, proposing a new rule to cap behavioral health costs for Medicare Advantage members. The proposed rule, scheduled to be published on Dec. 10, would require that Medicare Advantage in-network cost-sharing for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care not exceed […]

Medicaid, Elevated Behavioral Health Utilization Had Payers Talking in Q3

The ongoing need for behavioral health services will be no surprise to anyone involved in the industry. Patients continue to have high rates of need and often present with greater acuity. This demand for behavioral health services was reflected across payers’ Q3 earnings calls. The result? Sky-high utilization levels. For example, David Cordani, the CEO […]