California is taking steps to address a range of behavioral health issues. From mental health insurance coverage to depression research to addiction treatment, here is the major behavioral health news making headlines in California. California Legislature Passes Bill to Mandate Mental Health Parity Insurance companies are required to cover mental and physical health equally, but…
Telecommuting was already increasing when the COVID-19 pandemic gave it a big, sudden push forward. How does remote work affect individuals and relationships? Let’s take a look. Remote Work: Pros and Cons The benefits of remote work are easy to see. Workers have more time and flexibility for daily life, whether that means just being…
During the ongoing COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, more behavioral health providers are delivering services by using a variety of telehealth solutions. These services often include assessments for depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. For new behavioral health clients, most providers conduct an assessment to help determine the extent of their symptoms and possible treatment options. Providers…
Although the use of opioids has declined in recent years, substance abuse and addiction remains a persistent problem. Every day, 128 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids, according to 2018 data. While nearly 21 million Americans have at least one type of addiction, only about 10 percent of them receive treatment.…
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has revised the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records regulation known as 42 CFR Part 2. SAMHSA says that this move is intended to aid care coordination between providers while still protecting client privacy.…
If you offer telehealth at your behavioral health or addiction treatment practice, reimbursement can be difficult to navigate. This has become a particular issue during the COVID-19 public health emergency, when telehealth has exploded in popularity. So how can you make sure that you are reimbursed for your behavioral telehealth services? Working with Medicare reimbursement…
Behavioral health and addiction treatment experts in Ohio are facing several issues that could impact their organizations. Here we highlight some of the latest behavioral health news from the Buckeye State. Drug Overdose Deaths Increasing in Ohio One year after seeing a decline in drug overdose deaths, Ohio is reporting a 5-percent increase for 2019.…
Did your behavioral health practice recently launch telehealth services? As more behavioral health or addiction treatment locations resume in-person visits, it is important to continue to address the needs of clients who still prefer remote options. Here’s how you can market your behavioral health practice and remind clients, both new and existing, that telehealth services…
As mental health needs continue to grow across the United States, more clinicians may see a need for independent behavioral health services. However, launching your own practice is also full of challenges. Here’s how to address some of those. 1. Lack of clinical experience If you are a recent graduate, newly licensed, or have been…
If you use electronic health records (EHRs) in your behavioral health practice, you may have encountered the issue of interoperability. This involves the ability of different EHR systems to share and interpret a patient’s health data. (Check out BestNotes’ previous blog posts on the subject of EHR interoperability.) One standard for electronic health information interoperability,…