From Consolidation to Innovation, Behavioral Health Executives Share Their 2021 Predictions

In 2020, the COVID-19 emergency turned the behavioral health industry upside down, impacting everything from reimbursement and revenues to service delivery and demand itself. In the year ahead, the coronavirus will continue to shape the behavioral space. As such, behavioral health executives predict that technology and consolidation will take center stage in 2021. At the […]

With Enforcement Actions on the Rise, Behavioral Providers Must Improve Compliance Plans for Protection

The nation is finally starting to realize the importance of behavioral health care. As a result, providers have more reimbursement options than ever. Commercial payers have become a bigger part of the picture thanks to parity requirements, and Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement opportunities continue to grow. But with more money comes more problems, especially on […]

Tufts Health Plan Pioneers New In-Home SUD Treatment Option

Tufts Health Plan has rolled out a “pioneering” new in-home substance use disorder (SUD) treatment option for certain clinically eligible commercial members. The coverage will be available through a pilot in Massachusetts, where no other insurers are covering such home-based SUD treatments, according to a press release announcing the news.  Tufts is teaming up with […]

Google-Affiliated In-Home Care Provider Moves into Behavioral Health Space

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, new entrants have flooded the behavioral health space, especially in the digital realm. The newest player moving in on the opportunity is a Google-affiliated house-call company that’s taking a slightly different approach. Ready — an on-demand, in-home health service — is now offering behavioral health visits for patients in certain markets, […]

Judge Rules UnitedHealth Must Reprocess 67K Behavioral Claims

UnitedHealth Group must reprocess about 67,000 behavioral health care claims that it previously denied, a federal judge ordered on Nov. 3.  The ruling comes after a years-long legal battle, which is centered around more than 50,000 patients who were beneficiaries of UnitedHealthcare’s United Behavioral Health (UBH) between 2011 and 2016. During that time, their behavioral […]

Movers & Shakers: New CEOs at Ashley Addiction Treatment, New Directions

Ashley Addiction Treatment appoints joint CEOs  Ashley Addiction Treatment has promoted two of its senior executives to lead the company.  Alex Denstman — Ashley’s senior vice president and chief growth officer — and Greg Hobelmann — senior vice president and chief medical and clinical officer — will take over as joint CEOs on March 1. […]

Aetna, Inpathy Expand Virtual Behavioral Health Partnership

Aetna has expanded its partnership with Inpathy, an online behavioral health company, to bring behavioral services to members in Illinois, Texas and Florida. Headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, Aetna is owned by CVS Health (NYSE: CVS). The managed health care company has been working with Inpathy to bring its members virtual behavioral health care services since […]

Beacon, Optum Execs Predict Closer Payer-Provider Relationships Post-Pandemic

While telehealth technology has long been available, COVID-19 is responsible for finally forcing its widespread adoption. Behavioral health providers and payers seem to agree: There’s no turning back now. While virtual care is likely here to stay, it’s unclear what role it will play in the behavioral health industry going forward. However, stakeholders predict improved […]

Anthem Invests in Digital, Remains Bullish on Virtual Behavioral Health Delivery

Anthem (NYSE: ANTM) is putting more money toward growing its artificial intelligence and digital capabilities. The move is likely indicative of the insurer’s long-term plan to continue virtual behavioral health care delivery even post-pandemic.  “The way that care is going to be accessed here in the future is slightly different than how it has been […]