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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Primary Care Visit Rates Among Medicare Beneficiaries Declined 10% Between 2017 & 2023
May 18, 2026Between 2017 and 2023, primary care visit rates among traditional Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older declined 10.6%, from 2.54 visits per person per year to 2.27 visits per person per year nationwide. Visit rates reached a low of 2.20… -
U.S. Health Insurance Enrollment Declined By 2.3 Million Between 2024 & 2025
May 18, 2026Total health insurance enrollment in the United States declined by 2.3 million members, falling from approximately 320 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 to 318 million in the fourth quarter of 2025. The data was drawn from the Mark… -
Flint, Michigan Infant Cash Transfer Program Linked To 32% Reduction In Child Protective Services Investigations
May 18, 2026Expectant mothers and infants participating in the Rx Kids cash transfer program in Flint, Michigan experienced a 32% reduction in child protective services (CPS) investigations compared to pre-program levels. Among all infants born in Flint, the investigated allegation rate declined… -
CMS Imposes Nationwide Six-Month Moratorium On New Hospice & Home Health Enrollment
May 18, 2026On May 13, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) imposed a six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment for hospice and home health provider organizations. CMS stated the action is… -
SAMHSA Updates MOUD Guidance, Says Medication-Only Opioid Treatment Models Are Insufficient
May 18, 2026The federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently updated its guidance on treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), stating that treatment models providing only medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are insufficient. SAMHSA said its funding, training,… -
Pennsylvania Sues Character.AI After Chatbot Impersonates Licensed Physician
May 18, 2026The Pennsylvania Department of State (DOS) is suing Character.AI, an artificial intelligence (AI) platform that allows users to interact with and create AI companion chatbots, after one chatbot allegedly represented itself as a licensed physician. The complaint cites an interaction… -
El Dorado County Awards $35 Million Psychiatric Facility Contract To Telecare
May 14, 2026El Dorado County selected Telecare Corporation to operate the county’s 16-bed psychiatric health facility (PHF) in Placerville under a new five-year contract valued at approximately $35.2 million. The county’s Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Behavioral Health Division issued a… -
Missouri Juvenile Justice Overhaul Changes Eligibility For Adult Prosecution
May 14, 2026Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bill (SB) 888 into law, limiting the circumstances under which juveniles can be transferred to adult court; however, it adds a new entity that can move to transfer a case to adult court. Currently,… -
Pennsylvania Raises Direct Care Worker Wages To $15 Per Hour Through $21 Million Investment
May 14, 2026The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has started implementing a wage increase for direct care workers (DCWs) serving older adults and people with disabilities through self-directed service programs. Approximately 8,500 DCWs are eligible to apply for wage increases that would… -
Nebraska DHHS Launches Financial Incentive Program For Rural Health Care Workforce
May 14, 2026The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is opening applications for the Nebraska Rural Health Workforce Incentive Program, a financial incentive program intended to recruit and retain health care professionals in rural areas of the state. The program…