Continue exploring valuable insights and resources on mental health, addiction treatment, and behavioral health topics. Find more expert advice, stories, and strategies to inspire personal growth and professional success
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…
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a type of counseling and psychological intervention that combines acceptance and mindfulness strategies with commitment and behavior-change strategies. Previously known as comprehensive distancing, it was developed in 1982 by Steven C. Hayes to combine cognitive and behavioral therapy. How is ACT Therapy used? ACT is intended to help clients…
Value-based payment (VBP) models and value-based care have been difficult to implement, and behavioral health in particular has been slow to adopt VBP models. However, this year saw significant changes toward the implementation of VBP that providers should know about. Key payers and providers, including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), announced in…
This year has seen a lot of significant developments in behavioral health and addiction treatment. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories that made headlines across the nation. Multiple Prescription Painkiller Lawsuit Results In August 2019, an Oklahoma judge ruled that consumer healthcare company Johnson & Johnson helped encourage the state’s painkiller…
Children and teens have unique and often complex behavioral health needs. Functional family therapy (FFT) is often used to address behavioral concerns in juveniles aged 11-18 years. Here is an overview of FFT and how it works. What does Functional Family Therapy involve? Developed by Drs. James Alexander and Bruce Parsons, FTT is a short-term…
Across the nation, many states and communities are working to address a variety of behavioral health challenges. Here is some of the behavioral health and addiction treatment news making headlines in California. Controversial California Law Could Force Conservatorship for Severe Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Under a law passed last year, the counties of San…
If you’re a behavioral health or addiction treatment professional who’s frustrated with your electronic health record (EHR) software, you’re definitely not alone. While EHR use has expanded nationwide, many clinicians continue to find them frustrating to use. Provider complaints about many EHR systems include a lack of interoperability, limited functionality, poor usability, and low personalization.…