A bipartisan group of senators has called out large payers for their mental health “ghost networks,” which provide an inaccurate list of in-network providers. “Ghost networks” often list providers no longer in-network, accepting patients, or having closed their practice. The lawmakers noted that ghost networks could lead to mental health access issues and make it […]
Category: Medicare
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is looking to integrate behavioral health care into its continuum of care as it continues its push for whole-person health. “We will serve the patients in clinic settings, in their homes, integrating behavioral care supported by our data driven clinical and next best actions and all coordinated to provide the right […]
A bipartisan group of U.S. House representatives have introduced a new bill aimed at increasing access to mental health services for seniors Dubbed the Increasing Mental Health Options Act of 2022, the legislation seeks to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to psychologists and can receive mental health services regardless of their care setting. Currently […]
Private insurers offering Medicare plans to seniors may soon have more rigorous behavioral health requirements to follow. The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday unveiled a newly proposed rule for Medicare Advantage (MA) meant to emphasize “the invaluable role that access to behavioral health plays in whole-person care.” The move comes […]
As the U.S. senior population increasingly struggles with behavioral health conditions, more providers are starting to invest in solutions. Elara Caring and Oak Street Health (NYSE: OSH) are two such providers looking to help treat seniors’ behavioral health needs through an integrated model of care. Texas-based Elara Caring is a home health, hospice, personal care, […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is considering creating the first national directory of health care providers and services. The agency floated those plans in a Wednesday announcement. Such a move could have major implications for the notoriously fragmented behavioral health industry. CMS is pitching the directory as a way to help […]
Providers approved for the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) new ACO REACH program are seeing an opportunity to further integrate behavioral health into care. Earlier this year, CMS announced it was nixing direct contracting and replacing it with the ACO Realizing Equity, Access and Community Health (REACH) model. Multiple direct-contracting models were […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is looking to bolster the behavioral health workforce and test out new payment models in effort to improve mental health parity and access. It’s part of HHS’ recently released roadmap, which gives guidelines about integrating mental health and substance use care into whole-person care. The roadmap […]
Last year about 50,400 Medicare Part D beneficiaries experienced an opioid overdose. That’s according to a new report from the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The report also found that less than 20% of Medicare beneficiaries with opioid use disorder (OUD) received medication to treat their […]
When it comes to substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, Medicare has major gaps in coverage. Specifically, Medicare, which is the largest payer in the country, does not cover residential or intensive outpatient SUD services. This could be changing, as the Biden administration continues to prioritize SUD treatment and behavioral health parity – and as public […]
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