Social distancing, anxiety, and co-occurring disorders that raise the risk of COVID-19 infection can all exacerbate behavioral health symptoms. Behavioral health clinicians should be aware of these potential issues and help guide their staff and clients through this uncertain time. Physical concerns for behavioral health clients during the coronavirus outbreak Many behavioral health or addiction…
As coronavirus cases rise across the nation, more and more organizations are encouraging employees to work from home to avoid potential exposure and spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many behavioral health organizations may struggle with this change. While it may not be appropriate for all organizations or all employees, allowing remote work for some staff…
Behavioral health and addiction treatment providers have an important role to play in the coronavirus outbreak. As healthcare professionals, behavioral health clinicians should be ready to address concerns about the coronavirus from both clients and team members. Avoid coronavirus spread and infections Behavioral health organizations can help reduce the spread of coronavirus with the usual…
Under a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP), providers and pharmacists use an electronic database to track prescriptions for controlled substances, such as opioid medications. These PDMPs are intended to identify patients and behavioral health clients who may be misusing controlled prescriptions, which could put them at risk for addiction or overdose. PDMPs allow users to…
As we’ve discussed before on the BestNotes blog, value-based care is becoming the future of U.S. healthcare. However, most value-based payment (VBP) models have focused on physical health rather than behavioral health. The law firm of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, under its Manatt Health division, recently created a report for the California Health Care…
As demand for behavioral health services grow, lawmakers and providers are attempting to address various mental health and substance misuse concerns across the nation. To understand the needs of their clients and the social and legislative trends that may affect their practices, behavioral health and addiction treatment providers must stay ahead of new developments in…
Whether you currently use an electronic health record (EHR) system, or are considering adopting one for the first time, you’ve heard about interoperability. This refers to the ability of different computer systems or software to exchange and use data. For many years, U.S. healthcare has been divided into numerous “silos,” where different providers and health…
As the U.S. healthcare landscape moves from fee-for-service to value-based payment (VBP) models, value-based care has been difficult to implement for behavioral health and addiction treatment. A new model from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, however, could help encourage broader VBP adoption in behavioral health. Blue Cross NC’s New Model Blue Cross…
This week’s post is taking a look at the behavioral health and substance misuse issues making headlines in Florida. Central Florida Students to Receive Mental Health Lessons Several schools in Central Florida are rolling out a new plan to require five hours of mental-health lessons for students in grades 6-12. This plan was partly inspired…
Patients who have been hospitalized for a behavioral health incident, such as a substance overdose or a psychiatric episode, are highly vulnerable in the first few weeks or months after discharge. Behavioral health and addiction treatment can be frightening and isolating for many clients, especially after hospitalization or other inpatient stay. During this period, your…