‘It’s Extremely Difficult’: Payvider Models Demonstrate How Far Behavioral Health Integration Challenges Go

The struggles of Optum and CVS Health Inc. (NYSE: CVS), two of the country’s largest health organizations, to integrate assets into a cohesive “payvider” model illustrates the deep challenge of creating value-based care models.  Optum, the health services division of UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH), and CVS Health, which owns Aetna, one of the largest […]

Optum, Aetna and UHS Leaders Offer ‘Outcomes Roadmap’ for Value-Based Contracting

Behavioral health providers have lagged behind their physical health counterparts in measuring outcomes. But that may soon change, industry insiders believe, as payers pressure providers to show more data before raising rates or negotiating value-based contracts. Even so, collecting the correct data to prove outcomes isn’t just on behavioral health companies. A true outcomes-based approach […]

UHS Expects Staffing Costs to Drop, Paving the Way for Growth in 2023

Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) leadership projects workforce pressures may ease up this year, allowing it to return to growth mode. Executives at the King of Prussia-based hospital system estimate that lower COVID rates will result in lower premium pay for temporary employees. Across the business, executives expect those costs to shrink by a third […]

UHS Announces New $61M JV; Summa Health Opens $84M Behavioral Health Facility

Caron Treatment Centers expands in Florida Wernersville, Pennsylvania-based nonprofit behavioral health provider Caron Treatment Centers opened its 100,000-square-foot facility at the beginning of February, according to a news release from the organization. The facility, The Keele Medical Center, is located at 4575 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach, Florida. It offers a medical detox unit, 40 residential […]

Mental Health Executive Outlook: Why Patients, Providers and Payers Are Demanding More in 2023

Economic uncertainty heading into 2023 will drive several existing trends that orbit around the topic of value-based care. In turn, economic pressure and increased focus on value will demand that mental health providers sharpen their proverbial pencils. The prognostications below come from executives of some of the largest incumbent companies and growing startups in the […]

Top Behavioral Health Trends for 2023

2023 is set to be a year of transition for behavioral health, as the COVID-era public health emergency (PHE) comes to an end and economic headwinds impact the global economy. Companies that took advantage of the PHE’s relaxed regulations will finally get some answers to looming questions about their business model as the federal government […]

UHS Facilities Likely to Struggle with Workforce Challenges ‘For the Foreseeable Future’

Universal Health Services Inc. (NYSE: UHS) continues to forecast staffing challenges going forward after years of difficulties driven by the coronavirus pandemic.  Elevated premium temp staffing rates relative to pre-COVID rates are likely a new permanent reality for the company, UHS leaders said during the company’s third-quarter earnings call. The company also expects specific facilities […]

Why More Behavioral Health Operators Opt to Lease Instead of Own

Behavioral health providers largely opt to lease real estate instead of buying it in order to maximize capital going into operations. That’s where investors often say they can get the most return for their investment, and where providers say they can best address patient needs.  This happens to such a degree that the behavioral health […]

UHS to Use Behavioral, Acute Businesses as Payers Prioritize Holistic Care

Universal Health Services’ (NYSE: UHS) behavioral health and acute care business segments could be more connected in the future. While the two segments have largely remained siloed, the move towards holistic care could give the publicly traded company leverage in the future. “To be perfectly candid, historically our two business segments have not enjoyed a […]

What Traditional Behavioral Health Operators Can Teach Startups About Curbing Customer Acquisition Costs

A lot is riding on whether or not digital behavioral health operators will be able to solve the challenge of high customer acquisition costs. Last year, investors poured $5.5 billion of capital into digital operators’ coffers.  Yet high customer acquisition costs remain a largely unresolved concern that could limit digital behavioral health’s promise of speeding […]