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.
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Illinois Expands Supported Decision-Making To All Adults, Not Only Those With I/DD
September 1, 2026Illinois enacted a law expanding access to supported decision-making beyond adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD). House Bill (HB) 5365, signed on July 30, 2026, expands eligibility under the state’s Supported Decision-Making Agreement Act beginning January 1, 2027. Previously, the Supported… -
79.3% Of Young Adults In Study Had Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Syndrome Risk Or Disease
September 1, 2026Nearly four out of five young adults in a recent study had cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome risk or disease by an average age of 22.9 years, suggesting that cardiovascular and metabolic risk is emerging well before middle age. Of the 1,283… -
Child Welfare Involvement Linked To 24% Lower Repeat Emergency Department Use Among Substance-Exposed Infants
September 1, 2026Medicaid-covered infants with prenatal substance exposure (PSE) who were involved with the child welfare system (CWS) at birth had a 3.7 percentage-point, or 24%, lower rate of repeat moderate- to high-complexity emergency department (ED) use during their first year of… -
$60 Billion In Federal Medicaid Hospital Payments Across 37 States Exceeds New Payment Limits
September 1, 2026At least 37 states, with the count including the District of Columbia, have Medicaid state-directed payment (SDP) arrangements for hospitals that exceed new federal payment limits beginning to phase in in 2028. An estimated $60.1 billion in current annual federal… -
U.S. Employer Health Care Costs Projected To Increase 9.5%, Exceeding $19,000 Per Employee In 2027
September 1, 2026U.S. employer health care costs are projected to increase 9.5% in 2027, pushing average health plan costs above $19,000 per employee. The increase would mark the fourth consecutive year of health care cost trends approaching double digits. The projection assumes… -
Colorado Medicaid Finalizes Weekly Caregiver Limits As Part Of LTSS Cost-Containment Initiative
August 31, 2026On August 14, 2026, the Colorado Medical Services Board adopted an emergency rule limiting the number of Medicaid-paid service hours that can be provided by an individual caregiver to a Medicaid beneficiary receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS). The vote… -
Virginia Expanding Mental Health Competency Restoration In Local Jails Through Creation Of ‘Restoration Pods’
August 27, 2026Virginia is expanding mental health competency restoration into local jails to reduce demand for forensic beds at state psychiatric hospitals. The initiative, which will be conducted in new “Restoration Pods,” will also allow eligible defendants to begin court-ordered treatment without… -
VA Expands Eligible Services For Homeless Veterans
August 27, 2026The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can now directly pay rent, utilities, housing deposits, moving expenses, food, transportation, and other costs for eligible veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness through VA medical centers. VA already provides housing assistance through… -
Serious Mental Illness Prevalence Among U.S. Adults Fell To 6.9% In 2025
August 27, 2026The prevalence of serious mental illness (SMI) among U.S. adults fell to 6.9% in 2025, falling from 7.8% in 2024. There were an estimated 18.2 million people with SMI in 2025, compared to 20.1 million people in 2024, a decline… -
Costco & SCAN Health Plan Launching Medicare Advantage Plans In 3 Markets
August 27, 2026Costco Wholesale Corporation is planning to enter the Medicare Advantage market through an expanded partnership with SCAN Health Plan. The partnership will initially offer co-branded Medicare Advantage products in two states and a Medicare Supplement (Medigap) product in a third.…
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