Skip to main content

You’re not alone. Call 988 to connect to the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Join Us    |    Contact

CEO Update 233

NABH Submits FY 2026 IPF PPS Proposed Rule Comments to CMS

NABH on Tuesday submitted comments about the fiscal year 2026 inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system (IPF PPS) proposed rule, which includes several payment and quality reporting changes (for more information about the proposed rule, check out our NABH Analysis).
 
NABH’s comments included a recommendation for a greater rate increase to account for forecasting errors over the past few years, support for increases to rural and teaching facility adjustments, information on the need for increased health information technology investment, and feedback on various components of the inpatient psychiatric facility quality reporting program, among other topics.
 
“Generally, IPFs operate on thin margins, and Medicare rates that have failed to account for actual cost increases put an additional strain on these facilities,” the letter said. “Any financial shortfalls mean IPFs are struggling to invest in wage and benefit increases necessary to retain their existing workforce or hire additional staff, particularly considering the burnout among clinical and non-clinical personnel.”

House Committee Advances Military Construction, VA, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved the Fiscal Year 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act in a near party-line vote of 36 to 27.
 
The bill would provide about $453 billion for the Veterans Affairs Department (VA), an increase of more than $50 billion from the 2025 level. It would spend $37 billion on non-VA community care, which is $3 billion more than the VA requested for fiscal 2026. In 2025, the amount was $22.5 billion.
 
The legislation now moves to the House floor for consideration and eventually will be reconciled with the Senate VA Appropriations bill. The Senate will not begin its appropriations process until after the budget reconciliation process concludes.
 
The VA has also announced that veterans enrolled in the VA and who have been referred to Community Care no longer need a second review from a VA clinician to seek treatment. The provision implements language from the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. VA officials hope this change will accelerate access to community care.
 
In addition, the Dole Act prohibits VA administrators from overriding a VA physician’s referral for a patient to receive outside the VA. According to the law, the ban on administrative review will remain in place for two years, after which the VA must report on its effects to Congress.
 
The VA announced it would begin training employees to ensure the community care referral process is followed in compliance with the Dole Act, meaning implementation may vary by region. 

SAMHSA Publishes Resources on Medications for Opioid Use Disorder

On Wednesday, SAMHSA released three resources focused on delivering medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in nontraditional settings:

MACPAC Releases June 2025 Report to Congress

The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) has released its June 2025 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP, which addresses appropriate access to residential behavioral health treatment services for children with Medicaid coverage in Chapter 2 and access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in Medicaid in Chapter 3.
 
“States are required to provide treatment for individuals with disabilities, including serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance, in community-based settings if appropriate,” the report noted. “However, for children who need more intense care or pose a safety risk to themselves or their families, it is important that they can access residential treatment when necessary.”
 
Meanwhile, the report’s third chapter highlights recent federal policies and funding that have affected access to MOUD, an overview of MOUD coverage and estimates of use, and barriers to MOUD. The Commission said it plans to investigate further the use of utilization management practices and how they affect Medicaid beneficiaries’ receipt of timely and effective care.

We Want to Hear from You! Please Submit Surveys on EMTALA Implementation in Psychiatric Hospitals and Patient Safety Standards

NABH is releasing two surveys to members:

  • EMTALA Implementation in Psychiatric Hospitals, which is focused on how EMTALA compliance affects operational and clinical practices, such as staffing, workflow, documentation, processes (e.g., patient transfers), and resource allocation.
  • Patient Safety Standards, which is focused on standards for preventing and responding to incidents of patient violence and abuse (i.e., violence and abuse toward patients perpetrated by facility staff or other patients), particularly for inpatient and residential settings.

Please submit your responses by Friday, June 27. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Schwartz.

USC Seeking Mental Healthcare Providers for New Research Study

The University of Southern California is seeking mental healthcare providers who working with bisexual+ (bi+) adult clients—including those identifying as pansexual, queer, or attracted to multiple genders for a new research study.
 
The study will explore how social and structural inequities contribute to disproportionately high unmet need for mental health care among bi+ people.

Eligible participants may be invited to share their insights in a focus group discussion and receive $50 compensation. Your input will support efforts to close the health gap and promote equal opportunity and justice for bi+ people. Click here to learn more.

NABH 2025 Annual Meeting Photos Are Available!

Please click here to see or use photos from the NABH 2025 Annual Meeting in Washington earlier this month. NABH requests that you please credit photographer Chris Ferenzi if you use or share a photo.
 
And remember to mark your calendars for March 2-4, 2026 when we will host the NABH 2026 Annual Meeting at our new location: The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC!

Fact of the Week

A recent research letter published in JAMA Network reported the 988 lifeline was contacted 16,333,707 times between July 1, 2022 and Dec. 31, 2024. Of those contacts, 70% were calls, 18% were texts, and 11.9% were chats. Meanwhile, 11% of the contacts were re-routed to the Veterans Crisis Line.