Mental Health

Federal Focus on Behavioral Health Crisis Care 

You may be thinking that we’ve been writing a lot about behavioral health on Say Ahhh! lately. Well, you’re right – and there’s more! For starters, last week, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released new National Guidelines for Child and Youth Behavioral Health Crisis Care, complementing other recent resources such as […]

CMS Approves First State for New ARPA Medicaid Mobile Crisis Services Option, Additional States Express Interest 

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced approval of Oregon’s plan to cover community-based mobile crisis intervention services for individuals experiencing mental health or substance use crises under a new Medicaid state option. As we’ve previously highlighted on Say Ahhh!, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), passed in March 2021, included a […]

CMS Reminds States EPSDT Requirement Includes Behavioral Health, Offers Specific Strategies

Medicaid’s pediatric benefit, Early and Periodic Screening Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT), is getting more attention from federal officials. As part of its child health-focused release yesterday, CMS released a new Informational Bulletin reiterating EPSDT’s requirement to cover screenings and medically necessary treatment for children’s behavioral health, mental health and substance use disorders. The timing is […]