Behavioral Healthcare

Medicare Advantage final rule addresses competition and marketing practices

April 8, 2024 - CMS has finalized policies to promote competition in Medicare Advantage and Part D plans, boost access to behavioral healthcare services, and reduce deceptive marketing practices. The Contract Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Advantage and Part D final rule included guardrails about plan compensation to agents and brokers who help beneficiaries navigate...

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CMS Proposals Address Anti-Competitive Practices in Medicare Advantage

by Victoria Bailey

CMS has proposed provisions to improve protections for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, prevent anti-competitive practices, and strengthen access to behavioral healthcare services. The Contract Year...

Employers Expect Highest Health Plan Benefits Cost Growth in 10 Years

by Kelsey Waddill

In 2024, experts anticipate that health benefits costs will increase 5.4 percent on average per employee, according to Mercer’s National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans 2023. Mercer...

CA, KY Expand Behavioral Health Services Through Mobile Crisis Teams

by Victoria Bailey

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has approved proposals to expand behavioral health services for Medicaid beneficiaries in California and Kentucky through community-based mobile...

How Mental and Behavioral Health Disparities Impact Adults, Youth

by Victoria Bailey

Mental and behavioral health disparities disproportionately impact racial minority groups, people with disabilities, and those who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, a report from UnitedHealth...

BCBSTX Provider Network Expansion Improves Behavioral Healthcare Access

by Victoria Bailey

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is improving behavioral healthcare access for members with an expanded provider network and additional telehealth offerings. After the payer expanded its...

6 Key Payer Benefits that Support Behavioral Health Prevention

by Kelsey Waddill

With behavioral healthcare demands on the rise, payers must not only be aware of the current trends but establish pathways toward behavioral health prevention through their health benefits. Half of employer-sponsored health plan enrollees...

Biden Admin Increases Access to School-Based Mental Health Services

by Victoria Bailey

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced three initiatives to increase access to school-based mental health services for children with Medicaid. “We are taking bold actions to strengthen...

Humana Seeks to Improve Medicare Advantage Specialty Needs Benefits

by Kelsey Waddill

Humana has announced a partnership with Longevity Health Plan to improve Medicare Advantage members’ specialty needs plan benefits. Humana’s partner is both a clinical services company and...

Payers Fall Short of Employer Expectations on Behavioral Healthcare

by Kelsey Waddill

Employers agree that behavioral healthcare is a critical element of employer-sponsored health plan benefits, but more than three in ten found their payer’s behavioral healthcare benefits...

How Medicaid Covered Behavioral Health Services in 2022

by Victoria Bailey

Medicaid coverage of behavioral health services in 2022 varied across states, but the majority of state Medicaid programs reported covering at least half of all services, according to an issue brief...

Blue Shield of CA Expands Access to Mental Healthcare Resources

by Victoria Bailey

Blue Shield of California has expanded access to mental healthcare resources by connecting members to an online platform that offers personalized well-being assessments and information. The platform,...

BCBST Report Reveals Racial Care Disparities Among TN Residents

by Victoria Bailey

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee (BCBST) has published its first health equity report, revealing the racial care disparities that Tennessee residents face in behavioral healthcare, maternal...

HHS Approval Boosts Access to Care for Incarcerated Medicaid Beneficiaries

by Victoria Bailey

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has approved a section 1115 demonstration in California to help improve access to...

Cigna’s Integrated Health Plan Reduced Care Costs for Employers

by Victoria Bailey

Employers saved more than $1,400 per member per year when employees enrolled in Cigna’s integrated health plan that coordinates medical, pharmacy, and behavioral benefits, according to a study...

Tufts Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Collab Boosts Access to LGBTQ+ Care

by Victoria Bailey

Tufts Health Plan and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care have partnered with a connected healthcare delivery platform to improve access to LGBTQ+ care for commercial health plan members. The collaboration...

How State Medicaid Programs Address the Behavioral Health Workforce Shortage

by Victoria Bailey

State Medicaid programs have implemented or plan to implement strategies to address the behavioral health workforce shortage, including increasing reimbursement rates and reducing administrative...

HHS, CMS Guidance Boosts Access to Specialty Behavioral Healthcare

by Victoria Bailey

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has expanded access to specialty behavioral healthcare for Medicaid and...

Going Beyond Benefits: How Employers Can Assess, Create Wellness Culture

by Kelsey Waddill

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, many employers expanded their mental health benefits to improve employee wellness. However, research has indicated that more mental health benefits do not necessarily equate to a robust...

Payer, Provider Value-Based Care Contract Targets Equity, Population Health

by Kelsey Waddill

Independence Blue Cross (Independence) has announced that it will renew its long-term value-based care contract with Jefferson Health. The provider will participate in Independence’s Total Value...

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