The Affordable Care Act (ACA), widely known as Obamacare, allows for expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income Americans. So far, 36 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Medicaid expansion. In other states, the debate continues in numerous forms. Here’s some of the latest news on Medicaid expansion across the nation. Kentucky Plans to Expand…
As mental health and workplace wellness get more attention from the media and the general public, loneliness is emerging as a specific concern Loneliness not only affects quality of life, but creates problems at work, even among behavioral health staff. What causes workplace loneliness? In spite of open-office plans and increased connectivity, workers are lonelier…
Electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS) has gained popularity in recent months as a way to better track opioid use and reduce fraud and misuse. Many states have already implemented their own EPCS mandates, but the federal government and even private companies also have gotten involved. Federal Legislation and Requirements for EPCS The U.S. Drug…
While Texas boasts opioid overdose rates below the national average, the Lone Star State has not been completely free of addiction and other behavioral health concerns. Here are a few of the behavioral health news stories making the rounds in Texas. Texas launches GetWaiveredTX to help expand buprenorphine use A group of health care providers,…
Providers, government agencies, researchers, and other stakeholders continue to seek ways to reduce the nation’s opioid epidemic. In recent months, electronic prescribing for controlled substances (EPCS) has gained more attention as a potential tool. What is EPCS? Many physical and behavioral health providers participate in electronic prescribing of medications, also known as e-prescriptions or e-prescribing.…
Across the United States, many communities have limited access to quality behavioral healthcare, even as demand rises. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) found that demand for addiction counselors alone may increase anywhere between 21 to 38 percent by 2030, creating a shortage of these professionals. As mental health awareness grows and the opioid…
Opioid misuse, alcoholism, and other forms of substance use disorder (SUD) continue to impact communities across the country. Telehealth and remote monitoring have become credible options for addiction treatment, especially for individuals in underserved locations. Current Addiction Treatment Needs Addiction treatment is facing many challenges across the United States, including: Healthcare worker shortages throughout the…
Florida may be the Sunshine State, but it still faces difficulties that include widespread addiction and a shortage of mental-health clinicians. Here are some of the recent developments affecting behavioral health in Florida. Most Florida Children Not Getting Mental Health Help Although nearly 400,000 children in Florida need behavioral healthcare, as many as 55 percent…
“I was taught to keep my notes vague.” I hear this all the time… I was taught exactly the same thing! I hear this one, too: “If you don’t accept insurance, your notes don’t really matter.” One of my favorite professors, an expert on meditation and expert witness appearances, emphatically told my class, “You never…
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, provides for expanded Medicaid coverage for low-income Americans. So far, 36 states and the District of Columbia have adopted Medicaid expansion. Current State of U.S. Medicaid Expansion ACA offers financial incentives for adopting the Medicaid expansion, but courts have ruled that the decision to expand Medicaid…