Innovista Health’s Post

This is a step in the right direction. We have seen many policies which carry exorbitant MH deductibles/copays, while physical health is covered. As Alex Stavros mentioned, we still have a lot of work to do. We need to have more incentives for high quality care, outcomes measurements, and better payment practices. The current payment system in behavioral health still incentivizes low cost, ineffective treatment providers because of reimbursement policies. One step at a time.

This ‘final rule’ released this week adds more needed teeth to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), and is a big deal because it forces health insurers to cover mental health care on equal footing with physical health care, something that should’ve happened after the 2008 law. In practice, people have faced tons of hurdles, like fighting appeals - for the right level of care for the right amount of time, needing extra approvals, and paying out-of-network costs for mental health services. I have seen it firsthand with thousands of families over the past decade. It is hardly ever smooth. This rule cracks down on those unfair barriers, making sure insurers can't make it harder or more expensive to access therapy compared to physical care. The rule also pushes insurers to fix gaps in their networks (very few networks offer the full continuum of care needed to intervene effectively at the right level of care, at the right time) and payment practices. 👏 But there is still more to do; like improving the speed and ease of getting contracted, improving the detail, speed of updating, and accuracy of online network directories, and increasing rates to encourage more high quality providers and care. #MentalHealthMatters #MentalHealthParity Fact Sheet: https://lnkd.in/gihJBqEw

The Biden administration’s new rule gives mental health the attention is deserves, aiming to close the gap between mental and physical healthcare by holding insurers accountable. If you’ve recently tried to find a therapist in-network, you know it’s a struggle—people are almost four times more likely to go out-of-network for mental health, pushing many to forgo treatment altogether. With over 84 million adults battling mental health challenges, this rule could make a real difference, but only if insurers play ball. Will they? Read this article to learn about the new rule.  https://lnkd.in/gZpETf5i #healthcarestaffing #healthcareindustry #healthcareats #mentalhealth

At Aura, we’re committed to reducing the financial stress that employees face by helping them build confidence and security. We know that supporting both mental and financial well-being is key to a thriving workforce. Today, the White House announced a historic rule ensuring that mental health care for 175 million Americans will be treated on par with physical health care. As such a large percentage of healthcare is delivered through employer-sponsored benefit plans, this is a huge step forward for employers who have been at the forefront of addressing the mental health crisis since COVID-19. A 2021 report revealed that 87% of large employers believe in making mental health care access a top priority. We applaud these employers   and hopeful this new policy enables them to better do that. 🌟 If you would like to talk about how this new rule may impact your organization, please drop me a comment or send me a LinkedIn DM. https://lnkd.in/gPNX2rVS #MentalHealthMatters #FinancialWellness #EmployeeWellbeing

Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule Announced by Fed. FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Lowers Mental Health Care Costs by Improving Access to Mental Health and Substance Use Care Specifically, the final rule will: - Require health plans to make changes when they are providing inadequate access to mental health and substance use care. - Make it clear what health plans can and cannot do. They cannot use more restrictive prior authorization, or other medical management techniques, or narrower networks to make it harder for people to access mental health and substance use disorder benefits than their medical benefits. They must use similar factors in setting out-of-network payment rates for mental health and substance use disorder providers as they do for medical providers. - Close existing loopholes including requiring non-federal governmental health plans, like those offered to state and local government employees, to comply with its requirements. Read full Fact Sheet: https://loom.ly/d0-lKak #MHPAEA #regulations #substanceuse #mentalhealth #treatment #behavioralhealth #opioids #healthcare #healthIT

Big news today... after more than a decade of advocacy from groups like NAMI, the Biden-Harris administration finalized rules to strengthen the bipartisan Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), which was passed in 2008. These rules aim to increase access to mental health care and lower costs for families by ensuring that insurance companies provide adequate mental health coverage. President Biden said, “Mental health care is health care. But for far too many Americans, critical care and treatments are out of reach. Today, my Administration is taking action to address our nation’s mental health crisis by ensuring mental health coverage will be covered at the same level as other health care for Americans. There is no reason that breaking your arm should be treated differently than having a mental health condition. The steps my Administration is taking today will dramatically expand access to mental health care in America.” Vice President Kamala Harris called the rules "historic" and said "President Biden and I are committed to ensuring that every person in our country has the mental health care they need to thrive. That is why we made the largest investment in youth mental health in history and are transforming how mental health is understood, perceived, and treated for all Americans. Today, we are building on this lifesaving and lifechanging work by announcing the finalization of a historic rule that will expand mental health care across our nation so more of our loved ones, neighbors, coworkers, and classmates receive the care they deserve." Read the full press release from the White House below. #doingbetter #mentalhealthmatters #youthmentalhealth #leiya https://lnkd.in/eUmXt6kh

Recently proposed legislative updates may improve the enforceability of behavioral health parity rules, according to ECGMC’s Katy Shropshire and Kate Middleton. These updates could have significant implications for payers, providers, and patients alike. As we recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, it's important to continue the conversation around mental health parity and behavioral health parity. Stay tuned for more updates on this important issue. #mentalhealthparity #behavioralhealthparity #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth

“How is everybody doing?” Last week, Sesame Street character Elmo asked this seemingly simple question on social media that prompted thousands of responses, revealing the struggles that many are currently facing. It serves as an important reminder to check in on our friends and loved ones and prioritize mental health. RGA’s recent global survey on mental health uncovered that insurers are doing just that and are integrating mental health into their strategic priorities, including claims, underwriting, and product development. As the beloved red muppet learned, the scale of the current mental health crisis is staggering. To learn more survey insights and how RGA is helping insurers meet the growing demand for mental health coverage, continue reading: https://bit.ly/3R7jt2U

"Individuals struggling with mental health conditions often rely on health plan provider directories to access affordable, quality health care services, and ghost networks can force patients to choose between paying out-of-pocket, which is not possible for many, or forgoing treatment altogether." Read the full story now: https://lnkd.in/ex2vKP2y #MentalHealthAccess #GhostNetworks #HealthcareReform #NYHealthcare #MentalHealthAwareness *This is intended to provide general information, not legal advice. Please contact the authors if you need specific legal advice.

Mental health spending has surged during the pandemic, reflecting a growing recognition of its importance in overall healthcare. This trend underscores the need for integrated solutions in medical billing and practice management to support mental health services efficiently. At TrustMed Solutions, we're committed to providing comprehensive support for all aspects of healthcare, including mental health. Read more about the increase in mental health spending and its implications from the Axios Article: #mentalhealth #HealthcareSpending #medicalbilling #practicemanagement