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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.
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California To Phase Out Prior Authorization For Health Care Services With Approval Rates Of 90% Or Higher
October 29, 2025New legislation in California, signed on October 6, 2025, directs health plans and health insurers to phase out prior authorization for health care services with approval rates of 90% or higher by January 1, 2028. The legislation is supported by… -
67% Of Medical Groups Have A Behavioral Health Specialist On Staff
October 29, 2025About two-thirds (67%) of medical groups have a behavioral health specialist on staff, according to a recent survey. About 15% of the medical groups surveyed said that they screen for mental health issues despite not providing mental health services. About… -
Buprenorphine Plus High-Quality, Low-Intensity Medical Counseling Is Highly Effective For Opioid Use Disorder
October 29, 2025For adults with opioid use disorder being treated on an outpatient basis with buprenorphine, those who received low-intensity medical management counseling showed outcomes similar to those who received more intensive behavioral therapy in addition to the medication, a recent study found.… -
Self-Reported Cognitive Disability Rates Among Adults Have Increased In The U.S. Over The Past Decade, From 5.3% To 7.4%
October 29, 2025The prevalence of self-reported cognitive disability among U.S. adults increased between 2013 and 2023, from 5.3% to 7.4%, according to a recent study. Younger adults, particularly those aged 18 to 39 years, showed the largest increases in the prevalence of… -
Globally, CVDs Were A Leading Cause Of Disability & Deaths In 2023
October 29, 2025The leading causes of deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2023 were cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), representing 15.6% of all disease burden worldwide, according to a recent study. DALYs represent premature death (years of life lost) and years lived with a… -
Wisconsin Medicaid Awards Four Entities Long-Term Care Contracts For Geographic Service Regions 2 & 7
October 29, 2025The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) awarded contracts to four organizations for two Medicaid managed long-term care (LTC) programs—Family Care and Family Care Partnership. The contracts go live on January 1, 2026. They run for an initial two-year term… -
CMS Clarifies In-Person Requirement For Medicare Mental Health Telehealth Services
October 28, 2025The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) policies for most Medicare telehealth services, except behavioral health, changed on October 1, 2025. After this date, telehealth behavioral health services received in home settings will continue to be covered for beneficiaries… -
Since 2022, The Average Wait Time For Physician Appointments In Five Specialties Increased By 19%, To 31 Days
October 28, 2025The average consumer wait time to schedule a new physician appointment in five specialties increased by 19% between 2022 and early 2025, from 26 days to 31 days, according to a secret shopper survey that spanned 15 major metropolitan areas.… -
Many Medicare Advantage & Medicaid Managed Care Plans Have Limited Behavioral Health Provider Organization Networks, Inactive Providers
October 28, 2025Many Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans in 2023 had limited behavioral health provider organization networks, a high percentage of inactive providers, and inaccurate contact information, according to a recent analysis by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG)… -
California Community Reentry Program For Parolees Has Lower Recidivism Rates For Men & For Women
October 28, 2025Participants in California’s community reentry programs—also known as Enhanced Alternative Custody Programs (EACP)—have lower recidivism rates compared to those not participating in the programs, according to a new report from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). ECAP encompasses…
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