Behavioral Health Today

May is Mental Health Month!

Patrick Gauthier — Fri, 11 May 2012 22:25:06 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 11, 2012 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 Statement from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Mental Health Month

Last year, 45.9 million adult Americans had a mental illness, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health. These conditions affect [...]

War On Smoking Offers Some Lessons For Obesity Fight

Patrick Gauthier — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:18:32 +0000

By Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News

May 05, 2012

This story was produced in collaboration with

Since first lady Michelle Obama made childhood obesity her signature project almost two years ago, the issue has had the kind of highly visible national leadership that it previously lacked.

But that isn’t enough, say public [...]

SAMHSA Launches Learning Collaboratives for Peer or Recovery Community Organizations in 8 States

Patrick Gauthier — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:08:56 +0000

25 April 2012 From the SAMHSA Innovations Blog: http://blog.samhsa.gov/2012/04/25/samhsa-launches-learning-collaboratives-in-8-states-join-today/ A few weeks ago, SAMHSA launched a major health reform education effort with the announcement of awards for health reform education to eight peer or recovery community organizations. In the coming months SAMHSA will continue to use the blog as a launching point for health [...]

HHS announces new Affordable Care Act options for community-based care

Patrick Gauthier — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 20:55:36 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2012 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 Medicaid and Medicare introduce greater flexibility for beneficiaries to receive care at home or in settings of their choice

New opportunities in Medicaid and Medicare that will allow people to more easily receive care and services in their communities rather than [...]

New: GAO Report Identifies Mental Health Among Top Three Pre-Existing Conditions Leading to Denial of Insurance Coverage

Patrick Gauthier — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:40:43 +0000

Hypertension, mental health disorders and diabetes are the most commonly found medical conditions among adults that could lead to a health insurer denying coverage, the Government Accountability Office concluded in a new report about pre-existing conditions (PDF).

Iowa ACO launched in partnership between insurer and integrated health system

Patrick Gauthier — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 16:27:30 +0000

Agreement designed to enhance patient experience and slow cost increases April 26, 2012 DES MOINES, Iowa (April 26, 2012) – Today, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Iowa Health System that creates Iowa’s first commercial health plan Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The new ACO focuses on [...]

SAMHSA Releases Mental Health 2010 Report

Patrick Gauthier — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 21:56:18 +0000

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today released Mental Health, United States, 2010, the latest in a series of publications issued biannually by SAMHSA since 1980. Modeled after CDC’s annual report, Health, US, this new report includes mental health statistics at the national and State levels from 35 different data [...]

Additional Coverage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Won’t Hurt Employers, According to New Thomson Reuters Research

Patrick Gauthier — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:21:35 +0000

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Make up only 2.2% of Employer Health Spending

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is unlikely to have a large effect on the growth rate of employer healthcare expenditures, according to two new studies conducted by researchers [...]

Commonwealth Fund Report: States Actions Implementing Affordable Care Act’s Early Health Insurance Market Reforms

Patrick Gauthier — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:50:11 +0000

March 22, 2012

Contact(s):

Mary Mahon Public Information Officer TEL 212-606-3853, cell phone 917-225-2314, mm@cmwf.org

Jemma Weymouth TEL (301) 280-5706; jweymouth@burnesscommunications.com

March 22, 2012, New York, NY—As the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act approaches, a new Commonwealth Fund report finds that 49 states and the District of Columbia have already taken action [...]

Health Insurance Exchange Final Rule: Impact on Behavioral Health

Patrick Gauthier — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 23:35:42 +0000

On March 12, HHS published a final rule on Affordable Health Insurance Exchanges. The Exchange final rule includes standards for:

The establishment and operation of an Exchange Health insurance plans that participate in an Exchange Determinations of an individual’s eligibility to enroll in Exchange health plans and in insurance affordability programs Enrollment in health [...]