Some in the addiction treatment space are using novel conceptions of the marketing jargon “lifetime value” as a tool for assessing new programs and strategies. Because addiction treatment providers are so different from the average business, the typical application of business rules and concepts often yields different outcomes than would be expected. In turn, some […]
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is the latest health care payer to highlight the impact of skyrocketing behavioral health utilization. Specifically, UnitedHealth Group executives said Tuesday that second-quarter financial shortcomings were partly linked to “unanticipated” medical costs that ended up being $6.5 billion more than originally forecast. That figure was largely inflated by behavioral health utilization, […]
This is an exclusive BHB+ story Substance use disorder (SUD) treatment providers could be entering a period of significant disruption. The industry, which has been relatively stagnant in the field of new treatment modalities, may see the rise of new medications and technologies. But that’s not the only disruption to the sector I foresee. Now […]
This is an exclusive BHB+ story The impact of the Change Healthcare hack is not just a distant echo in the behavioral health industry. The reverberations of this seismic event are still felt through industry today. On top of the direct impact of the Change Healthcare hack, 15 months or so of hindsight have revealed […]
Optum CEO moves to enterprise role at UnitedHealth Group, successor named Heather Cianfrocco, the CEO of Optum, will move to the role of executive vice president of governance, compliance and information security at Optum’s parent company, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH). Optum is the payvider services and consulting arm of UnitedHealth Group. Cianfrocco took […]
This is an exclusive BHB+ story When it comes to payer trends in behavioral health, value-based care is generally top of mind for most. And value-based care is certainly a critical movement set to impact the behavioral health industry in 2025 and beyond. But several under-the-radar trends in behavioral health reimbursement could also significantly reshape […]
After a slow dealmaking year in 2024, private equity is eager to get back in the game. While the M&A landscape is ripe to surge, it might not be a season of crowing about deals. Still, getting paid for services rendered will likely be a dicey prospect. Add on top of those trends in the […]
Over the last few months, we’ve watched Optum pull back on behavioral health funding on multiple fronts. While substantive to the specific sectors impacted, it signals that previous worries about payers cutting back on behavioral health reimbursements are warranted. In short, that’s bad news. But it’s not unexpected. Why is that? Because payers are largely […]
Optum is reportedly executing a multi-pronged plan to curb spending on applied behavior analysis (ABA) provided to patients covered by Medicaid. The insurer targets its Medicaid-contracted autism therapy networks in Arizona, Nebraska, Tennessee, Virginia, New Jersey, Indiana and Louisiana, according to a report by the nonprofit investigative journalism outfit ProPublica. The plan is a response […]
The ongoing need for behavioral health services will be no surprise to anyone involved in the industry. Patients continue to have high rates of need and often present with greater acuity. This demand for behavioral health services was reflected across payers’ Q3 earnings calls. The result? Sky-high utilization levels. For example, David Cordani, the CEO […]
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