Addiction Treatment in 2024: Navigating Privacy Challenges, Telehealth Shifts, Reimbursement Reforms

The landscape of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in 2024 was a tapestry of challenges, technological disruptions and unexpected breakthroughs. A staggering data leak exposed the personal information of 100 million patients. Economic pressures forced some SUD providers to retreat from certain state markets, and long-anticipated regulatory changes were once again delayed, leaving the industry […]

‘It’s a No-Brainer’: How Integrated Addiction Treatment Models Meet the Triple Aim of Health Care

The merit of an integrated addiction treatment model is grounded in three key elements: the value to the patient, the value to the provider and the value to the payer. “If we could find value-added items that meet those three aims, then that’s a no-brainer,” Nick Stavros, CEO of the Scottsdale, Arizona-based outpatient medication-assisted treatment […]

Earnings Season Proved Behavioral Health Is Under the Spotlight and the Microscope

The coronavirus pandemic and massive influx of capital into the industry over the past five years have put the behavioral health industry centerstage in the proverbial play that is American health care. But the spotlight eventually attracts the microscope. The industry has and will continue to face greater scrutiny, examination, criticism and challenges than ever […]

‘I Could See More Players Pursuing This Model’: Behavioral Health Joint Ventures ‘Proliferating’

The number of joint venture partnerships between hospitals and behavioral health care providers will continue to climb, despite the lumbering process of finalizing such a pairing. “I do think there’s been some challenges in the last year or two that have maybe slowed deals down a shade,” William Teague, managing director of VMG Health, said […]

UHS Touts ‘Historically High’ Payer Pricing, Technology Plans

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) is enjoying robust behavioral health pricing, driven by negotiations with lower-paying payers. Steve Filton, UHS’s chief financial officer, attributed historically high behavioral health pricing to the company’s ability to leverage higher rates from lower-paying payers, naming managed Medicaid payers specifically on the company’s Q3 earnings call Friday. “In an environment […]

SUD Treatment Providers Adapting to Market Pressures Through Payer Relations, Service Integration

The substance use disorder (SUD) treatment industry was formerly dotted by small, local providers. In the future, these mom-and-pop providers may go the way of cottage businesses during the Industrial Revolution. To be clear, SUD treatment has not yet been completely limited to assembly lines. Small providers still abound. At the recent Behavioral Health Business […]

Universal Health Services Looking to Get Behavioral Health Margins Back to Pre-COVID Levels

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) is looking to get its behavioral health margins back to pre-COVID times. Reductions in labor costs, enhanced productivity and a bump in patient volume are among the factors that will support that goal, according to Steve Filton, the company’s chief financial officer. “We had originally set a target for [2024] […]

Senate Finance Committee Releases Excoriating Investigation of Abuse in At-Risk Youth Industry

After years of facing criticism for wrongdoing and mistreatment of patients, the at-risk youth industry was blasted in a report released on Wednesday by the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. The report and communications from the committee chairman, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), conclude that systemic harm and abuse are “routine” parts of the at-risk youth industry. […]

UHS Sells 80-Bed Psychiatric Facility to Texas-Based Operator

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) plans to sell River Crest Hospital, a San Angelo, Texas-based facility, to Shannon Health System, a healthcare provider based in the same city. The parties did not disclose the terms of the deal. The move expands the nonprofit Shannon Health System’s behavioral health division. Presently, Shannon operates a 22-bed inpatient […]