‘Impossible to Operationalize’: What the New Parity Rule Really Means for Behavioral Health Providers, Payers

The rollout of the final parity rule feels like a much-needed win in an industry that has been muddling through ever-increasing challenges for years. That’s as long as the final rule goes unchallenged in the courts, of course. Savoring this positive regulatory development is important: Behavioral health professionals need to find proverbial rays of sunshine […]

‘It’s A Huge Deal’: Behavioral Health Stakeholders Praise New Mental Health Parity Rule

The public comment period hasn’t begun for the Biden administration’s recently published proposed mental health parity rule. But that hasn’t stopped a flood of commentary on the rule from entering the public sphere already. On July 25, the administration released a proposed rule that firms up mental health parity in terms of health plan’s compliance […]

Commercial Health Plans See 48% Increase in In-Network Behavioral Health Providers

The number of in-network behavioral health providers increased by 48% over the past three years. That’s according to a new survey from AHIP, which highlights the behavioral health efforts by commercial insurers. AHIP said providers increase care access and affordability when they partner with health plans. A major segment of respondents increased reimbursement rates and […]

41M People Get Behavioral Health Access Through Employer-Backed Plans

About 1-in-4 Americans accessed behavioral health care through employer-provided coverage in 2020. This data — from a new report by AHIP’s Coverage@Work — highlights the bounds of company health plans in providing access to in-network and potentially more affordable behavioral health services. In total, the report highlighted the health care engagement of 41 million Americans, […]

Industry Applauds Tough Talk on Parity, Investment in Behavioral Health Workforce in Biden’s State of the Union

Pres. Joe Biden’s State of the Union address laid out a vision for addressing the ailing American mental health care system that was well-received by leaders and advocates in the behavioral health space. Several industry groups and executives in the space expressed their relief that addressing behavioral health — especially mental health and substance use […]