By Amy Lukowski Psy.D. – The behavioral health crisis isn’t just a workforce problem; it’s a care delivery problem. The implications of the shortage of behavioral health professionals are concerning for anyone in healthcare. It stands to worsen the widespread, untreated behavioral health issues that cause excessive wait times for appointments.
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As states pursue Rural Health Transformation funding, five priorities keep rising to the top: telehealth, workforce stability, integrated behavioral health, stronger primary care, and the data systems needed for value‑based care. This week’s Friday at Five breaks down what these trends mean for the future of rural health.
By Andy Flanagan – Behavioral health providers are treating more patients than ever while operating in three overlapping zones of regulatory uncertainty. DEA prescribing flexibilities expire and get extended at the last minute, again. Telehealth reimbursement parity loses enforcement teeth even as virtual care becomes standard practice.
By Thomas Keane MD MBA & Christopher Carroll – Patients with behavioral health conditions are often dually-burdened with chronic physical health conditions. Consequently, providers caring for these patients must coordinate their care to get the best possible health outcomes.
By Laura Young – A review of the state-submitted RHT abstracts shows that while workforce, telehealth, and hospital sustainability remain prominent, the most consistent throughline across states is the need to fix how information moves at the last mile.
By Scott Anderson – Many behavioral health agencies lack adequate controls to address and recover from a cybersecurity incident. What these agencies need are capabilities such as adequate backup and recovery, managed detection and response, security information and event management, data loss prevention and other key security elements.
By Lynn Carroll – Behavioral health and primary care integration is quickly moving from policy aspiration to expectation. We’ve long known that behavioral health disorders, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and others, can cause poor adherence to care plans and eventually increase utilization.
By Ram Krishnan – AI is quickly changing the field of healthcare, including behavioral health. From making clinical notes more efficient to supporting diagnosis and treatment plans, AI offers a wide variety of new capabilities for providers. However, despite its potential benefits, AI raises concerns about data privacy, ethical considerations, and potential impact on the human element of care.
By Shahzad Mohammad – The behavioral health landscape is driven by an urgent need for more accessible and effective care. Telehealth isn’t just facilitating this shift; it’s leading the charge towards a future where quality care is within reach for everyone.