A federal audit released last week found that, despite changes in the law, Medicare and Medicaid enrollees may not have access to medications for opioid use disorder (OUD). In assessing why swaths of the country have spotty or nonexistent access to the federally approved medications methadone and buprenorphine, the U.S. Department of Health and Human […]
HHS
The Biden administration sees continued behavioral health-telehealth flexibilities as vital to improving access to services. Testifying on Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Xavier Becerra touted the federal government’s approach to telehealth and behavioral health during the coronavirus pandemic response as a win. “We can’t allow those flexibilities […]
The White House appears to be doubling down on its behavioral health efforts in its new 2024 budget proposal. The proposed budget aims to grow the behavioral health workforce, increase access to services – including crisis care – and advance mental health research. “In response to the current behavioral health crisis and in support of […]
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 […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Monday announced that Oregon will be the first state in the country to roll out a mobile crisis intervention program in Medicaid. The focus of the new program: behavioral health care. Leaders from HHS and the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are […]