Acadia’s Growth Plans Include 30 Possible Partnerships, 600 New Beds

Acadia Healthcare (Nasdaq: ACHC) has its eyes set on growth, with plans to add about 600 beds across new and existing facilities in 2020 and a “robust pipeline of approximately 30 projects” on the partnership front. Even the sale of Acadia’s UK business, expected for later this year, ties in, as it could eventually help […]

HHS Assistant Secretary for Health: Shortage of Residential MAT ‘Absolutely Unacceptable’

Expanding medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) and combating the resurgence of meth are currently top priorities for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), according to Admiral Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at HHS. Giroir shared those goals and others during a Tuesday presentation at the 2020 CMS Quality […]

Providers Beware: Behavioral Health Fraud Investigations, Recoveries on the Rise

Most behavioral health providers agree it’s a good thing: The federal government continues to funnel more money into behavioral health initiatives, such as fighting the opioid epidemic and funding certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHC). But as providers find themselves with more federal dollars, they’re also more likely to face increased scrutiny over their practices, […]

MAT with Buprenorphine, Methadone Superior to Other OUD Treatments in Preventing Overdoses

Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with buprenorphine or methadone is the gold standard for treating individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD), a new study suggests. Compared to other methods of treatment, researchers discovered that when buprenorphine or methadone are administered to individuals with OUD as part of their MAT regimen, they are less likely to experience an […]

Opioid Treatment Providers Praise New Medicare Coverage Opportunities

On January 1, new rules went into effect establishing expanded Medicare coverage for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment. Under the new benefit, opioid treatment programs (OTPs) will be able to enroll in — and be reimbursed by — Medicare for providing medication-assisted treatment (MAT) services that were not previously covered. Medicare will pay enrolled OTPs […]

Quartet Health Collaborates with Blue Cross NC for Value-Based Behavioral Health Payment Model

Quartet Health, a technology platform services company for behavioral health providers, has reached an agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) to establish a new value-based payment model for the Tar Heel State insurer. The goal is to ensure people get high-quality mental health care in a timely manner while improving […]

Mental Health ED Visits on Rise, Especially Among Younger Demographics

More children and young adults with mental health issues are seeking assistance at emergency departments (EDs) nationwide, new research concludes. The findings underscore the need for pediatric behavioral health providers. The study, which was published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine, was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Southern California […]

In the Pipeline: CleanSlate, SaVida’s New Clinics; UHS’ Oregon Hospital Proposal

Opened CleanSlate Centers opens new Wisconsin location CleanSlate Centers, a Nashville-based provider of outpatient alcohol and opioid addiction treatment services, has opened a new location in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, bringing its number of facilities in the state up to 13. Overall, CleanSlate operates facilities in 11 states, nine of which are east of the Mississippi River. […]

NABH Chief: CMS’ Plan to Streamline Psychiatric Hospital Compliance Misses Mark

Psychiatric hospitals that participate in Medicare will soon see changes to the way they’re surveyed for compliance. Currently, providers are surveyed twice to ensure compliance with two different sets of guidelines, or conditions of participation (CoPs). But starting in March, those surveys will be consolidated into one, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) […]

NABH’s New CEO Tackles Lofty Goals in Year, Decade Ahead

The National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH) is kicking off the new decade with a new leader. Shawn Coughlin took over as president and CEO of the trade association Jan. 1, following the retirement of the organization’s long-time leader Mark Covall, who headed up NABH for the past 24 years. With Coughlin at the helm, […]