CCBHC Funding Helps Behavioral Health Combat Workforce Shortages

Nearly three years into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid demonstration and about a year and a half into the first round of CCBHC expansion grant program, behavioral health stakeholders continue to advocate for the wider roll out of the CCBHC model. And in January, the industry recorded a win on that front. […]

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 […]

Medicaid Block Grant Option Could Hurt Behavioral Health Providers — But Not Anytime Soon

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled a new option for states to receive their federal Medicaid expansion funding as a capped lump sum. Behavioral health stakeholders worry the proposed waiver program could hurt safety net providers and the patients they serve, but operators won’t see changes anytime soon — if at […]

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 […]

National Council CEO Hopes to Expand CCBHC Program, Strengthen Medicaid in 2020

After years of being neglected, behavioral health issues are finally getting some attention in Washington, D.C. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened new up reimbursement opportunities for behavioral health services; the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) continues to roll out additional grants; and a growing number of state […]

Medicaid Expansion Associated with Fewer Fatal Opioid Overdoses

Medicaid expansion could be credited with saving the lives of thousands from opioid overdoses, researchers assert in a new study. In fact, states that adopted Medicaid expansion between 2014 and 2016 recorded fewer opioid-related deaths than states that did not, according to results published by JAMA Network Open. Medicaid expansion was born out of the […]

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. […]

SAMHSA Announces $200M in CCBHC Expansion Grants Available to Providers Nationwide

Behavioral health clinics across the country are now able to apply for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) expansion grants. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the funding opportunity Friday, putting $200 million worth of grants up for grabs and expanding the reach of CCBHCs. The purpose is to “increase access […]