On average, other wealthy nations spend about half as much per person on health care as we do in the United States. Despite our increased spending on health care, Americans have a lower life expectancy and a higher infant mortality […]
Resources
Adding Primary Care Services to Behavioral Health – How to Speed the Path to Profitability
Historically, more patients have received treatments for mental health issues from their primary care physicians (PCP) than from their mental health providers. However, time constraints and lack of specific mental health training has led many clinicians to consider a type […]
Understanding The Impact Of COVID-19 On Social Determinants Of Health
Originally presented on December 15, 2020. The pandemic has had a marked impact on the demand for social services — and the social determinants of health are directly related to rates of infection and mortality rates for COVID-19. In this […]
CMS Launches New Acute Care Hospital-At-Home Waiver Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a waiver for its new Acute Hospital-At-Home waiver program in November 2020. The new program provides regulatory flexibilities to allow eligible hospitals to treat eligible consumers in their homes. The waiver […]
Technology For The Next Normal—Your EHR Plus What?
By Monica E. Oss, CEO OPEN MINDS We remain in the midst of the crises caused by the pandemic. And while the “next normal” market landscape is not yet in focus, the picture is becoming clearer. Competition for health care consumers […]
Looking For Your Next Big Thing? Check Out These Innovative Programs
By Rachel Lilley, Production Manager, OPEN MINDS The future is not just about delivering old services in new ways, but also about repurposing capabilities and looking at ways to extend current expertise and strengths. We saw this happening in many […]
End of An Era: The Last Of The Standalone Behavioral Health Carve-Outs
By Monica E. Oss, CEO OPEN MINDS With the January 2021 purchase of Magellan by Centene (see Centene To Acquire Magellan Health For $2.2 Billion), there are no more standalone companies focused solely on managing behavioral health benefits. As of 2002, there […]
North Dakota Olmstead Settlement To Expand Community-Based Services & Housing For Individuals With Disabilities
The North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHS) is implementing a settlement with the federal Department of Justice to expand Medicaid long-term service and supports (LTSS) and supportive housing for more than 2,500 adults with disabilities. The agreement will put […]
Telehealth Is Here to Stay; Is Your Electronic Health Record System Ready?
Use of telehealth, particularly video technology, between patients and caregivers, exploded during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. Insurance claims for telehealth services jumped from .15% in April 2019 to 13% in April 2020, a percentage change of more […]
CEOs From 14 Top Mental Health Organizations Join Together To Engage Federal & State Officials in 50 States To Prioritize Response To Nation’s Escalating Mental Health Crisis
The chief executive officers (CEOs) of the nation’s 14 leading mental health advocacy organizations and professional associations formed a unified coalition that plans to engage with the federal government, governors, and key elected officials in 50 states to introduce a […]