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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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CMS Accepting Applications For The $100 Million MAHA Elevate Lifestyle Medicine Pilots To Address Chronic Disease Through Whole Person Care, Nutrition & Physical Activity
March 30, 2026The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is accepting applications for a $100 million pilot program to test evidence-based lifestyle and functional medicine approaches for chronic disease. The funding is available through the Make America Healthy Again: Enhancing Lifestyle… -
Antipsychotic Use Among Older Adults Increased 52% Between 2015 & 2024, With Shift Toward Long-Term Care Pharmacies
March 30, 2026Older adults in the United States are increasingly treated with antipsychotics, with a growing share of prescriptions dispensed through long-term care pharmacies. The rate of antipsychotic use among adults aged 65 and older increased from 2.67 per 100 persons in… -
BCBS Analysis Finds AI-Driven Coding Linked To $663 Million In Higher Inpatient Claims Costs
March 30, 2026Hospital use of artificial intelligence (AI) to automate documentation and billing may be contributing to higher claims costs through increased coding intensity, according to an analysis of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) claims data over three years. About $663 million… -
Bariatric Surgery Volumes Declined 46% Over Three Years While GLP-1 Prescription Rates Increased
March 30, 2026As use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1) medications increased between 2022 and 2025, the volume of metabolic and bariatric surgeries (MBS) declined by 46.4% over three years, according to a recent study. Among people eligible for MBS, GLP-1 prescription… -
Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorder Linked To 52% Higher Schizophrenia Risk Compared To Other Substance Use Disorders
March 30, 2026Youth with cannabis use disorder (CUD) have a 52% higher risk of developing schizophrenia compared to youth with other substance use disorders (SUDs), according to a study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry. Youth with CUD also had a… -
CMS Proposes Ending Standardized Plan Requirements For 2027 ACA Marketplace Plans
March 30, 2026The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed eliminating requirements that health plans in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces offer standardized plan options for the 2027 plan year. Standardized plan options have the same cost-sharing structures (deductibles… -
GLP-1 Medications Linked To 15%–20% Lower Risk Of Substance Use Disorders In Veterans With Type 2 Diabetes
March 30, 2026Researchers from the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System found that veterans with type 2 diabetes who were prescribed glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) had a lower risk of developing substance use disorders (SUDs) compared to those prescribed sodium-glucose… -
2026 Health Care Mergers & Acquisitions Expected To Focus On Outpatient Care, Specialty Services, & Cost Containment
March 26, 2026Outpatient care, specialty services, and cost containment solutions are projected to drive merger and acquisition activity in the health care sector during 2026, according to a recent report by VMG Health. Increased deal volume is projected for physician practices, behavioral… -
Four States Can Meet About 50% Of Estimated Demand For Psychiatrist Services, The Highest Capacity Of All States
March 26, 2026Four states, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Utah, have sufficient behavioral health professionals to meet about 50% of estimated mental health demand, based on the number of psychiatrists in the state. Nearly half of states have enough psychiatrists… -
Wisconsin To Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage To One Year Starting July 2026
March 26, 2026Wisconsin Medicaid is expanding postpartum coverage from 60 days to one year under a new law signed on March 18, 2026. The coverage will be available for families starting July 1, 2026, pending approval of Wisconsin’s state plan amendment by…
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