News

Alerts, news releases, and position papers to keep you in the know.

MEMBERS: KEEP UP ON THE LATEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE NEWS!

Access CEO Updates

Letters

HALO Letter to HHS about the Provider Relief Fund Deadline

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Letters

NABH Comments on Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy Rule

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Alerts

HHS Provides Exemptions for Buprenorphine Prescribers for Fewer Than 30 Patients

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Tuesday that practitioners prescribing buprenorphine, a controlled substance, for opioid use disorder to fewer than 30 patients are exempt from certain regulatory requirements codified under 21 U.S.C. 823(g)(2)(B)(i)-(ii). Under the new guidance, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and […]

Resources

Behavioral Health Slides from MACPAC’s April 2021 Public Meeting

Alerts

NABH Highlights Residential Treatment as Critical Service for Youth in New White Paper

NABH is pleased to share with you Residential Treatment: A Vital Component of the Behavioral Healthcare Continuum, a white paper that emphasizes the importance and effectiveness of psychiatric residential treatment services for children and adolescents. Together the NABH team and Youth Services Committee developed the paper as a resource for policymakers, regulators, the media, and […]

News Releases

NABH Releases Residential Treatment: A Vital Component of the Behavioral Healthcare Continuum

Letters

Bipartisan Policy Center Report Seeks to Bring Mental Healthcare & Addiction Treatment into the 21st Century

Letters

Healthcare Coalition Letter: Medicare Sequester Moratorium

Letters

NABH, National Council, and NASMHPD Urge CDC to Include Persons with Mental Illness and SUD in First Phase of Covid Vaccinations

Letters

NABH Signs MHLG Support Letter for the TREAT Act

Issue Brief

Changes to Medicare Coverage for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Services

This NABH Issue Brief highlights changes to coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included in its 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other final rules. The PFS rule also contains many changes related to telehealth for substance use disorder (SUD) services. For a […]

Resources

HHS Announces Delay in Provider Relief Fund Reporting Deadline and Revisions to ‘Lost Revenue’ Definition

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) has announced a new reporting portal for providers to register and submit information about how they have used payments from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) to cover Covid-19-related costs and lost revenues. HHS also said the deadline for reporting is extended, although it did not specify the […]

Letters

NABH Letter to Biden-Harris Transition Team

Issue Brief

CMS Expands Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended some Medicare coverage of telehealth services that the agency authorized during the Covid-19 pandemic. The changes were included in the final 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule that was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 28, 2020. Extended Coverage of Certain Services CMS permanently extended […]

News Releases

John Snook Joins NABH as Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives

Letters

Access to Covid-19 Vaccine for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Providers and Consumers

Alerts

HHS-OIG Requests Recommendations for New or Updated Safe Harbor Provisions

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) on Wednesday requested proposals and recommendations to develop new, or to modify existing, safe harbor provisions under the Social Security Act’s federal anti-kickback statute. The statute applies criminal penalties for whoever knowingly—and willingly—offers, pays, solicits, or receives money to induce or reward the […]

News Releases

CEOs from 14 Top Mental Health Organizations Join Together to Engage Federal and State Officials in 50 States to Prioritize Response to Nation’s Escalating Mental Health Crisis

Resources

A Unified Vision for Transforming Mental Health and Substance Use Care

Alerts

Biden Chooses California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to Lead HHS

President-elect Joseph Biden has selected Xavier Becerra, California’s attorney general, as his nominee to lead U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Becerra, who represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1993 to 2017, was chairman of the House Democratic Caucus from 2013 to 2017 and served on the powerful House Ways and […]

Letters

NABH Letter to NGA on Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution

News Releases

NABH Participates in NQF Webinar

Alerts

HHS to Host Hospital Data Reporting Webinar on Nov. 13

The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) will host a webinar on Friday, Nov. 13 at 1 p.m. ET to review the updated guidance for hospital data reporting requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic. This webinar is the fourth webinar HHS has hosted to provide guidance to the nation’s healthcare providers on this topic and […]

Alerts

CMS Corrects Announcement to Say Providers Cannot Use PRF When Repaying Medicare Loans

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has corrected a misstatement in its Oct. 8 news release to say the nation’s healthcare providers and suppliers cannot use Provider Relief Funds (PRF) to repay Medicare loans the agency has made during the Covid public health emergency. The correction first appeared in an FAQ on Oct. 9. CMS […]

Alerts

CMS Gives Medicare Part A & B Providers One More Year to Repay AAP Loans

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said Thursday it will give Medicare Part A and B providers and suppliers an additional year to repay loans the agency made to them during the Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE). CMS had advanced payments to Medicare Part A and B providers and suppliers through the Accelerated […]

Alerts

New CMS Guidance Requires Psychiatric Hospitals to Report Covid-19 Data Weekly

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released guidance that requires Medicare- and Medicaid-participating psychiatric hospitals to report Covid-19 data to the agency on a weekly basis. CMS published an interim final rule in early September that said hospitals would be required to submit Covid-19 data during the public health emergency in a […]

Letters

NABH Comments on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule and other Changes to Part B Payment Policies Proposed Rule

Letters

NABH Letter on HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements

Alerts

HHS Includes Behavioral Healthcare Providers in Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 Distribution

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Thursday announced an additional $20 billion is available from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) for healthcare providers to recover Covid-19-related financial losses and changes in operating expenses. HHS highlighted behavioral healthcare providers in its announcement and encouraged these providers to apply for this latest round of funding. HHS […]

Alerts

HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Change Terms for Recovering Lost Revenue

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued guidance that contradicts the department’s June FAQ about calculating lost revenue from Covid-19 that may be recovered through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’s (CARES) Provider Relief Fund (PRF). In the June FAQ, HHS said providers could “use any reasonable method of estimating the revenue during March and April […]

Letters

NABH Comments on FY 2021 OPPS Rule

Letters

NABH Letter on Covid-19 Reporting Requirements

Alerts

CMS Makes Covid-19 Data Collection a Requirement in Conditions of Participation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is requiring Covid-19 data collection and reporting as a condition of participation (CoP) for hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs, including psychiatric facilities. CMS added the requirement with other provisions in an interim final rule and said it will accept comments for 60 days. The rule […]

Letters

NABH and Other Healthcare Groups Support Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act

Alerts

HHS Extends Phase 2 General Distribution Deadline to Sept. 13

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the deadline to apply for Phase 2 General Distribution Funding for Medicaid, Medicaid managed care, Children’s Health Insurance Program, dental providers, and certain Medicare providers until Sunday, Sept. 13. This funding is through the Provider Relief Fund, which the federal government established in this year’s […]

Alerts

2020 NABH Annual Survey Starts Aug. 28!

Data Collection for the 2020 NABH Annual Survey Starts this Week! I am pleased to announce that data collection for the 2020 NABH Annual Survey will begin on Friday, Aug. 28. Your participation in this survey will help us continue to provide an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of the U.S. behavioral healthcare industry. Please note […]

News Releases

Milliman Release: “Study Reveals Individuals with Behavioral Health Conditions in Addition to Physical Conditions Drive High Total Healthcare Costs; Small Portion Spent on Behavioral Treatment, Vast Majority Spent on Physical Treatment”

Alerts

HHS to Host Provider Relief Fund Webinar on Thursday, Aug. 13

The Health and Human Services Department (HHS) will host an informational webinar for healthcare providers about applying to the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund this Thursday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. ET. Please click here to register. HHS announced on July 31 that certain Medicare-participating providers would have another opportunity to receive additional Provider Relief […]

Letters

Coalition Letter In Support Of TREATS Act

Analysis

NABH Analysis: CMS Proposes Expanding Medicare Telehealth Benefits and Scope of Practice Changes Beyond Pandemic

CMS Proposes Expanding Medicare Telehealth Benefits and Scope of Practice Changes Beyond Pandemic The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to maintain—either permanently or temporarily— many of the Medicare telehealth benefits and workforce flexibilities authorized during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the fiscal year 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule the […]

Alerts

HHS Extends Deadline for Provider Relief Funding Until Aug. 28

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) extended the deadline to Friday, Aug. 28 from Monday, Aug. 3 for healthcare providers who participate in Medicaid and CHIP to apply to the Provider Relief Fund established in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. HHS had previously extended this deadline to Aug. 3 […]

Alerts

Wit v. UnitedHealthcare Hearing Delayed to Wednesday, Sept. 2

The remedies hearing in the Wit v. UnitedHealthcare case scheduled for this week has been delayed to Wednesday, Sept. 2. NABH has learned that U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero has re-scheduled the hearing due to meetings related to Covid-19. Members of the public and press are welcome to join the webinar, and NABH will […]

Alerts

CMS Announces 2.2% Payment Update and Scope-in-Practice Changes for 2021

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will update the Medicare payment rate for the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) by 2.2% in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021, the agency announced in a final rule late Friday. In its April proposed rule, CMS had estimated a 2.4% payment rate update for IPFs […]

Letters

NABH Signs Letter to Congress Regarding Surprise Medical Billing

Letters

NABH Signs Letter Calling For Access to OUD Treatment and RSS During Covid-19

Alerts

Help Maintain Coverage of Telehealth Expanded During Covid-19

NABH is requesting information from our members to show how expanded coverage of telehealth during the Covid-19 pandemic has helped maintain and even improve access to behavioral healthcare. This information will help us advocate for continuation of this expanded coverage of telehealth after the public health emergency ends. Here is a quick survey to share […]

Alerts

Deadline to Apply for Medicaid / CHIP Provider Relief Extended to Aug. 3

Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that it is extending the application deadline for Medicaid and CHIP Provider Relief Fund distribution from today July 20, 2020 to August 3, 2020. In June, HHS announced plans to distribute approximately $15 billion to eligible providers that participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs who […]

Letters

NABH Letter on Telehealth: NABH sent a copy of this letter to the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce Committees.

Alerts

HHS Announces Changes to Covid-19 Daily Data Reporting Process Effective July 15

HHS announced that as of Wednesday, July 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Covid-19 module will no longer be an option for hospitals to fulfill the agency’s request for daily data reporting on bed capacity, utilization, personal protective equipment (PPE), and in-house laboratory testing data. Instead, HHS is […]

Alerts

SAMHSA Updates Confidentiality of Patient Records in Final Rule

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) on Monday issued a final rule to update the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records known as 42 CFR part 2 (or “part 2”) regulations, further aligning the regulations with other healthcare delivery rules. Key changes include: Part 2 programs may share information verbally with […]

Letters

NABH Letter: Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund

Alerts

HHS Announces Relief Funding for Medicaid & CHIP Providers, Safety Net Hospitals

HHS said Tuesday it expects to distribute about $15 billion through the department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to eligible providers who participate in state Medicaid and CHIP programs and have not received a payment from the Provider Relief Fund General Distribution. HRSA will also distribute about $10 billion from the Provider Relief Fund […]

Letters

Regulatory Relief to Support Access to Behavioral Healthcare

Letters

Covid-19 Task Force Letter to Congress

Resources

NABH-The Kennedy Forum Op-Ed

In January, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced some hopeful news when it reported a slight uptick in U.S. life expectancy following years of decline largely due to historic rates of overdoses and suicides. Sadly, COVID-19 has the potential to reverse serious progress made in addressing our nation’s mental health and addiction crises […]

Alerts

CMS Expects FY 2021 IPF Payments to Increase by 2.4%

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on April 10 said it expects payments to inpatient psychiatric facilities to increase by 2.4% in fiscal year 2021, boosting the federal per diem base rate to $817.59 from $798.55. An announcement about CMS’ proposed inpatient psychiatric facility prospective payment system (IPF-PPS) rule said the agency estimates […]

Alerts

HHS Announces $30 Billion in Covid-19 Relief Funding for Providers

HHS announced on Friday it is distributing $30 billion immediately to healthcare providers fighting the deadly Covid-19 pandemic. The funding is the first portion of the $100 billion allotted to hospitals and other providers as part of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations (CARES) Act that President Trump signed on March 27. The funding […]

Letters

Critical Behavioral Healthcare Recommendations During Covid-19

Letters

News

Alerts, news releases, and position papers to keep you in the know.

MEMBERS: KEEP UP ON THE LATEST BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE NEWS!

HALO Letter to HHS about the Provider Relief Fund Deadline

NABH Comments on Proposed Modifications to HIPAA Privacy Rule

HHS Provides Exemptions for Buprenorphine Prescribers for Fewer Than 30 Patients

Behavioral Health Slides from MACPAC’s April 2021 Public Meeting

NABH Highlights Residential Treatment as Critical Service for Youth in New White Paper

NABH Releases Residential Treatment: A Vital Component of the Behavioral Healthcare Continuum

Joint Letter to OSHA on Inpatient Psych Regulatory Actions

CMS Proposes 2.1% Payment Increase to Per-Diem Base Rate for IPFs in FY 2022

U.S. Labor Department Issues Guidance on Parity Compliance

Biden Administration Releases Drug-Policy Priorities for Year One

Bipartisan Policy Center Report Seeks to Bring Mental Healthcare & Addiction Treatment into the 21st Century

Healthcare Coalition Letter: Medicare Sequester Moratorium

NABH, National Council, and NASMHPD Urge CDC to Include Persons with Mental Illness and SUD in First Phase of Covid Vaccinations

NABH Signs MHLG Support Letter for the TREAT Act

Changes to Medicare Coverage for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Services

HHS Announces Delay in Provider Relief Fund Reporting Deadline and Revisions to ‘Lost Revenue’ Definition

NABH Letter to Biden-Harris Transition Team

CMS Expands Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services

John Snook Joins NABH as Director of Government Relations and Strategic Initiatives

Access to Covid-19 Vaccine for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Providers and Consumers

HHS-OIG Requests Recommendations for New or Updated Safe Harbor Provisions

CEOs from 14 Top Mental Health Organizations Join Together to Engage Federal and State Officials in 50 States to Prioritize Response to Nation’s Escalating Mental Health Crisis

A Unified Vision for Transforming Mental Health and Substance Use Care

Biden Chooses California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to Lead HHS

NABH Letter to NGA on Covid-19 Vaccine Distribution

NABH Participates in NQF Webinar

HHS to Host Hospital Data Reporting Webinar on Nov. 13

CMS Corrects Announcement to Say Providers Cannot Use PRF When Repaying Medicare Loans

CMS Gives Medicare Part A & B Providers One More Year to Repay AAP Loans

New CMS Guidance Requires Psychiatric Hospitals to Report Covid-19 Data Weekly

NABH Comments on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule and other Changes to Part B Payment Policies Proposed Rule

NABH Letter on HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements

HHS Includes Behavioral Healthcare Providers in Provider Relief Fund Phase 3 Distribution

HHS Provider Relief Fund Reporting Requirements Change Terms for Recovering Lost Revenue

NABH Comments on FY 2021 OPPS Rule

NABH Letter on Covid-19 Reporting Requirements

CMS Makes Covid-19 Data Collection a Requirement in Conditions of Participation

NABH and Other Healthcare Groups Support Eliminating the Provider Relief Fund Tax Penalties Act

HHS Extends Phase 2 General Distribution Deadline to Sept. 13

2020 NABH Annual Survey Starts Aug. 28!

Milliman Release: “Study Reveals Individuals with Behavioral Health Conditions in Addition to Physical Conditions Drive High Total Healthcare Costs; Small Portion Spent on Behavioral Treatment, Vast Majority Spent on Physical Treatment”

HHS to Host Provider Relief Fund Webinar on Thursday, Aug. 13

Coalition Letter In Support Of TREATS Act

NABH Analysis: CMS Proposes Expanding Medicare Telehealth Benefits and Scope of Practice Changes Beyond Pandemic

HHS Extends Deadline for Provider Relief Funding Until Aug. 28

Wit v. UnitedHealthcare Hearing Delayed to Wednesday, Sept. 2

CMS Announces 2.2% Payment Update and Scope-in-Practice Changes for 2021

NABH Signs Letter to Congress Regarding Surprise Medical Billing

NABH Signs Letter Calling For Access to OUD Treatment and RSS During Covid-19

Help Maintain Coverage of Telehealth Expanded During Covid-19

Deadline to Apply for Medicaid / CHIP Provider Relief Extended to Aug. 3

NABH Letter on Telehealth: NABH sent a copy of this letter to the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce Committees.

HHS Announces Changes to Covid-19 Daily Data Reporting Process Effective July 15

SAMHSA Updates Confidentiality of Patient Records in Final Rule

NABH Letter: Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund

HHS Announces Relief Funding for Medicaid & CHIP Providers, Safety Net Hospitals

Regulatory Relief to Support Access to Behavioral Healthcare

Covid-19 Task Force Letter to Congress

NABH-The Kennedy Forum Op-Ed

CMS Expects FY 2021 IPF Payments to Increase by 2.4%

HHS Announces $30 Billion in Covid-19 Relief Funding for Providers

Critical Behavioral Healthcare Recommendations During Covid-19

MHLG Letter to HHS and CMS on Medicare Telehealth