The News
Daily coverage of the developments shaping health and human services. From policy shifts to program innovations, reports on trends-shaping mental health, addiction treatment, child and family services, autism and I/DD, disability support and long-term care, social services, corrections, juvenile justice, chronic disease management, health care systems, and more-helping leaders make timely, informed decisions.
Filter Options
-
Idaho Medicaid Implements Behavioral Health Cuts
January 28, 2026Idaho Medicaid cut selected behavioral health services as part of an effort to help the state avoid a budget deficit. As part of the effort to avoid a deficit, the state intended to cut reimbursements for many Medicaid services by… -
SAMHSA Rebids 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline Administrator Contract
January 26, 2026The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is rebidding its contract for administering the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The administrator will be responsible for managing, enhancing, and strengthening the 988 Lifeline. The contract is currently held by… -
Medicare Telehealth Flexibility Expires January 30 Unless Congress Acts
January 26, 2026The latest extension of Medicare policies to expand use of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency is slated to expire on January 30, 2026, according to a fact sheet issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).… -
Turnover & Staffing Remain Key Concerns For I/DD Direct Support Professional Workforce
January 26, 2026A workforce survey revealed high turnover and vacancy rates among direct support professionals (DSPs), hampering provider organizations’ ability to provide proper care to individuals with intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD). Researchers from the National Core Indicators Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (NCI-IDD) collaborative… -
80% Of Medicaid HCBS Users In 2023 Were Younger Than Age 65
January 26, 2026Most of the 8.4 million beneficiaries using Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) in 2023 (80.2%) were younger than age 65, according to a recent analysis of Medicaid data. About 32.8% of HCBS users were younger than age 21. About… -
New Dietary Guidelines Update Federal Nutrition Policy
January 26, 2026The federal government released new Dietary Guidelines on January 7, 2026. For an adult consuming a diet of 2,000 calories, daily consumption should include the following components, according to the updated Guidelines: Protein target: 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein… -
Rural Family Physician Workforce Shrinks 11% Between 2017 & 2023
January 26, 2026Nationwide, the number of family physicians serving rural areas declined by 11% between 2017 and 2023, from 11,847 in 2017 to 10,544 in 2023, according to a recent analysis. Researchers analyzed data from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile for… -
Nearly Two-Thirds Of All States Cover Behavioral Health Therapy For Children & Youth
January 26, 2026Nearly one-third of children ages 3-17 enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans reported having mental, emotional, developmental, and/or behavioral needs, and about half of all children with a behavioral health diagnosis are not receiving necessary… -
Share Of LTSS Users Receiving HCBS Across The States Ranges From 55.8% In Kentucky To 99.4% In Oregon
January 26, 2026Across the states, the percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries using long-term services and supports (LTSS) in 2023 who received them via home- and community-based services (HCBS) ranged from 55.8% in Kentucky to 99.4% in Oregon, according to a recent analysis of… -
Telehealth Intervention By Pharmacists Collaboratively Enhances Hypertension Management & Outcomes
January 26, 2026Blood pressure control can improve significantly when individuals participate in telehealth visits integrating home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) readings with a pharmacist between primary care visits, according to a recent study. Researchers conducted a retrospective observational cohort study within the…
3001 Results | Page 1 of 301