California Medicaid Health Homes Program Launching In July 2018

News Report | June 25, 2017

On May 4, 2017, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that the state would implement the Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) Health Homes Program (HHP) beginning on July 1, 2018. Following a three-phase launch schedule, a total of...

Ohio Medicaid Launching New Behavioral Health Coding & Billing On January 1, 2018

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 19, 2017, the Ohio Governor’s Office of Health Transformation, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) announced that the state was ready to launch new behavioral health...

Civil Rights Lawsuit Claims Minnesota Foster Care System Fails To Provide Safe Placements

News Report | June 25, 2017

On May 31, 2017, child welfare advocates sued Hennepin County, Minnesota for violating the civil rights of children in foster care by failing to provide safe placements. The complaint, filed by A Better Childhood and co-counsel Faegre, Baker Daniels, said public...

Mood Disorder, Disrupted Sleep & Solo Caregiver – Risk Factors For Hospitalization For Youth With Autism

News Report | June 25, 2017

Mood disorders, disrupted sleep, and living with a solo caregiver are the most significant non-autism-related risk factors for hospitalization due to behavioral health crisis among youth with autism. Hospitalization risk factors related to autism include greater severity of autism...

Sonoma County Outsources Jail Behavioral Health Care To California Forensic Medical Group

News Report | June 25, 2017

On May 23, 2017, the Sonoma County, California, Board of Supervisors approved a contract to outsource jail behavioral health care to California Forensic Medical Group, Inc. The contract started May 1, 2017, and will run for five years, through...

Massachusetts Medicaid Picks 18 Provider Organizations For MassHealth ACO Program

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 8, 2017, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) announced it had selected 18 provider organizations for the Medicaid (MassHealth) accountable care organization (ACO) program that begins January 2018. The 18 ACOs are networks...

EHR Vendor eClinicalWorks Settles False Claims Case For $155 Million

News Report | June 25, 2017

On May 31, 2017, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that electronic health record (EHR) vendor eClinicalWorks (ECW) agreed to pay $155 million to settle a False Claims Act complaint. The settlement resolves a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged ECW...

California Awards $103 Million In Behavioral Health Grants To 23 Counties In Criminal Justice Realignment Initiative

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 8, 2017, the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) awarded grants totaling $103 million to 23 government entities that plan to launch new mental health and drug rehabilitation programs. The funding is through Proposition 47,...

FDA Requests Market Removal Of Opana ER Abuse Resistant Opioid

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 8, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested that Endo Pharmaceuticals remove its opioid pain medication, reformulated Opana ER (oxymorphone hydrochloride) with abuse deterrent properties. The reason for the request for removal is concerns that the...

Enrollment In IDEA Early Intervention Services Higher When Lead Agency Is Health-Focused

News Report | June 25, 2017

The odds of enrollment in early intervention services through the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) Part C were 1.5 times higher in states where a health-focused lead agency administered the program, compared to states where the program was administered...

46% Of New Mexico Children’s Behavioral Health Spending Was For Acute Residential Care

News Report | June 25, 2017

During state fiscal year 2015-2016, 46% of New Mexico’s child behavioral health spending was for acute residential placements and treatment foster care. During fiscal year 2016, the state spent about $196 million on children’s behavioral health through Medicaid and...

84% Of Alzheimer’s Family Caregivers Want More Support From Family

News Report | June 25, 2017

More than 84% of caregivers would like more support with caregiving tasks, particularly from their family. About two-thirds of unpaid caregivers for someone with dementia feel isolated or alone in their situation. More than 40% of caregivers feeling like their efforts...

Washington State To Implement New Applied Behavior Analysis Credential Requirements

News Report | June 25, 2017

On July 1, 2017, the Washington Health Care Authority (HCA) plans to implement new credentialing for Medicaid professionals providing applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services. The new credentials are licensed behavior analyst (LBA), licensed assistant behavior analyst (LABA), and certified...

ACLU Of Washington Sues State Over Discipline Of Special Education Students

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 8, 2017, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Washington sued the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) over discipline policies for special education students that result in twice as many suspensions and expulsions...

25% Of Renters Spend Over Half Of Income On Housing

News Report | June 25, 2017

More than 11.2 million rental households in the U.S. spent more than half of their incomes on housing; they represented about 25% of the total 43.3 million rental households that year. Across the 3,144 United States counties and county-equivalents,...

One-Third Of New Orleans Jail Inmates On Behavioral Health Medications; Service Provision Uneven

News Report | June 25, 2017

About one-third of the approximately 1,550 jail inmates at the Orleans Parish Jail are prescribed psychotropic medications. However, only about 160 of the inmates taking psychotropic medications are included on the monthly jail special needs mental health caseload. The...

62% Of LTSS Consumers Satisfied With Services; PACE Consumers & State Department Of Aging Medicaid Programs Score Highest

News Report | June 25, 2017

During 2015, an average of 62% of older adults and adults with disabilities receiving long-term services and supports (LTSS) said their services met all their needs and goals. However, the satisfaction level varied by service setting and funding source,...

Half Of Minnesota Home Care Aides Live In A Household Relying On Public Assistance

News Report | June 25, 2017

Half of home care aides in Minnesota live in a low-income household that qualifies for some form of public assistance. The average hourly wage for home care workers is $11.48, about 64% lower than the $18.88 average hourly wage...

Judge Orders Illinois To Begin Paying Down The $2 Billion In Backlogged Medicaid Claims

News Report | June 25, 2017

On June 7, 2017, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit filed by advocates representing the Medicaid service population served by the state’s managed care organizations (MCOs) that the State of Illinois must begin paying down the $2 billion...

Blue Cross & Blue Shield Partners With Lyft For Increased Access To Health Care Transportation

News Report | June 25, 2017

On May 18, 2017, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) announced a nationwide partnership with Lyft, a ride sharing service, to provide transportation to health care appointments for BCBSA members. BCBSA-affiliates will offer the service at no cost...

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