{"title":"Medicaid Reforms in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Mental Health Care.","authors":"Richard G Frank","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20260012","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20260012","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Medicaid is the nation's largest payer of mental health and substance use disorder care. As a result, federal policy changes can have far-reaching consequences for people with mental health conditions and substance use disorders. The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act imposes Medicaid work requirements, increases income-verification frequency, and establishes new cost-sharing practices for many services. The potential harms are especially acute for adults with a serious mental illness. For these adults-many of whom already face significant cognitive, motivational, and social challenges-these burdens interact with symptoms in ways that can magnify coverage loss and harm eligible individuals who are not the target of efforts to reduce the Medicaid-eligible population. The work-requirements statute exempts people who are medically frail, which, the statute indicates, involves people with a disabling mental disorder. Behavioral health conditions often involve fluctuating symptom severity and variable engagement in care, and the systems that treat them are often plagued by inconsistent diagnostic coding and insufficient documentation in administrative datasets. Addressing these complexities will pose important implementation challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"880-883"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148311343","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Common Thread: The Small Details of Research and Policy.","authors":"Lisa B Dixon, Howard H Goldman","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.26077022","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.26077022","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":"77 9","pages":"807"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148869013","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Learning About Stigma From Inside the Classroom.","authors":"Mira River","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20260299","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20260299","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"906-907"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148371774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Erica Hua Fletcher, Erin P Finley, Sam Tsemberis, Noe Tejeda, Caroline K Diehl, Sandra G Resnick, Sonya Gabrielian
{"title":"Research-Operational Partnerships in the Launch of a Hybrid Consumer-Operated Drop-In Center for Veterans.","authors":"Erica Hua Fletcher, Erin P Finley, Sam Tsemberis, Noe Tejeda, Caroline K Diehl, Sandra G Resnick, Sonya Gabrielian","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250503","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250503","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The West Los Angeles Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) peer center is a hybrid consumer-operated drop-in center developed to enhance community integration for veterans who have experienced considerable adversity, including homelessness, mental health challenges, and a history of traumatic life events. A steering committee stewarding the program's launch and implementation involved VA administrators, veteran leaders from community organizations, VA contractors, and subject matter experts, including embedded researchers. Guided by participatory implementation science principles, researchers drew from planning discussions among VA and community partners to codesign a program charter that laid the groundwork for an iterative formulation of program practices, performance metrics, and an evaluation plan that engaged partners-including veterans-in continuous quality improvement.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"894-897"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amaka Ehirim, Alec Allee-Munoz, Matthew E Hirschtritt, Lisa B Dixon
{"title":"Advancing Psychiatry Through Artificial Intelligence and Digital Technology.","authors":"Amaka Ehirim, Alec Allee-Munoz, Matthew E Hirschtritt, Lisa B Dixon","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.26077020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.26077020","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":"77 9","pages":"910-911"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148868988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Christian Burr, Sabine Hahn, Aaron M Carr, Andres R Schneeberger
{"title":"Implementation of Measurement-Based Care in Mental Health Services: A Systematic Literature Review.","authors":"Christian Burr, Sabine Hahn, Aaron M Carr, Andres R Schneeberger","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250065","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250065","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Over the past two decades, research has shown that measurement-based care (MBC) improves clinical outcomes in mental health care. However, translating MBC into routine practice remains challenging. In this systematic review, the authors aimed to synthesize evidence gathered from 2000 to 2024 on interventions supporting MBC implementation in adult mental health services in order to identify effective strategies and contextual factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PsycNet databases, yielding 1,120 records in a first search (2000-2022) and 1,095 in a second (2023-2024). The full texts of articles were assessed, and 16 articles selected for final analysis were critically appraised with the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Quantitative descriptive study designs were most common. MBC interventions were linked to symptom reduction, improved medication adherence, and increased use of self-report tools. Patient satisfaction rose when MBC supported shared decision making. Providers viewed MBC positively, although feedback practices varied and concerns about relational impact remained. Psychologists engaged more with MBC than did psychiatrists. System-level strategies and electronic health record integration increased MBC uptake, but broad adoption remained difficult. Key barriers included time constraints, lack of training, hierarchical structures, negative attitudes, and technical limitations.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Effective MBC implementation requires context-sensitive strategies, interprofessional collaboration, and active involvement of patients, service users, and caregivers. Future research may focus on underrepresented settings, diverse professional roles, and hybrid designs. Standardized measures and detailed reporting are essential to advance MBC integration and improve care quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"855-870"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148407859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Financing Options to Screen for Social Determinants of Mental Health.","authors":"Neil Krishan Aggarwal, Roberto Lewis-Fernández","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250607","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250607","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the largest funder of mental health services in the United States, announced that it would remove measures assessing the social determinants of health (SDoH) from its quality reporting programs for inpatient psychiatric and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Going forward, administrators and providers may not be financially reimbursed for screening patients and reporting these data, even though many SDoH are modifiable and account for half of the county-level variations in health outcomes. In this column, the authors argue for the continuation of the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Quality Reporting Program and the Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Patient Assessment Instrument and discuss alternative financing strategies for state agencies and commercial insurers to incentivize SDoH screening as federal reporting requirements end.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"902-905"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modality of Behavioral Health Care Delivery in Commercial Claims: Implications for Telehealth Policy.","authors":"Nathaniel A Sowa, Jacob Hyman","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250475","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250475","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The authors examined the distribution of behavioral health episodes of care (EOCs) by modality-telehealth only, in-person only, and both (hybrid)-to identify factors associated with telehealth use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using 2021-2022 MarketScan Commercial Database claims, the authors categorized EOCs by modality. Descriptive analyses were followed by logistic regression to identify independent associations of patient and provider characteristics with telehealth use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 937,711 EOCs, 41.1% were in-person only, 32.9% telehealth only, and 26.0% hybrid. Compared with individuals <18 years, all adult age groups had higher odds of telehealth-only care. Female sex and urban residence were also associated with greater telehealth use, whereas residence outside the Northeast and nonpsychiatrist providers were associated with lower use. Among hybrid EOCs, telehealth initiation was more likely among adults ages 36-55, urban residents, and those treated by nonpsychiatrists.</p><p><p>Telehealth constituted a substantial proportion of behavioral health care, highlighting the importance of maintaining flexible telehealth policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"876-879"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147937318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Brianna M Lombardi, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Brooke N Lombardi, Jacob Hyman, Nathaniel A Sowa
{"title":"Variation in Use of Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model Codes and Episodes of Care for Commercially Insured Individuals.","authors":"Brianna M Lombardi, Lisa de Saxe Zerden, Brooke N Lombardi, Jacob Hyman, Nathaniel A Sowa","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250173","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The collaborative care model (CoCM) of integrated behavioral health has a strong evidence base and specified reimbursement codes for implementation, yet uptake of CoCM billing is reported to be minimal. This study aimed to examine the frequency and length of CoCM treatment among commercially insured individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sample was drawn from MarketScan, a commercial claims database, and included individuals with at least one CoCM claim between 2018 and 2022. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors related to length of CoCM episodes of care (EOCs), including provider type, diagnosis, rurality, sex, and age.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2018 and 2022, a total of 16,537 individuals received at least one CoCM EOC; of these EOCs, 40.6% lasted ≥3 months and 14.7% lasted ≥6 months. Less than 0.01% of all individuals with a depression or anxiety disorder diagnosis who were continuously enrolled in the database received a CoCM EOC during this period. The most frequent diagnoses listed on CoCM claims were anxiety-related disorders (60.7%), depressive-related disorders (45.4%), trauma-related disorders (14.0%), and substance use disorders (4.2%). Year of treatment initiation was significantly associated with having an EOC of ≥3 months (OR=1.13, p<0.001). All types of diagnosis were significantly associated with having ≥3 months and ≥6 months of CoCM treatment.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although the number of CoCM claims increased across the study period, use of CoCM billing codes appeared to be low for commercially insured individuals. Study findings suggest that additional factors (e.g., training gaps or workforce shortages) should be studied to assess rates of CoCM code use.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"809-815"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148153053","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Development of a Protocol to Guide Client Transition From Early Psychosis Intervention.","authors":"Janet Durbin, Avra Selick, Brian Cooper, Sandy Brooks, Nedra Peter, Nicole Kozloff","doi":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250507","DOIUrl":"10.1176/appi.ps.20250507","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Early psychosis intervention (EPI) is a time-limited care model for young people with psychosis. EPI discharge is not always consistent, timely, or effective, and clients may disengage from treatment after discharge. The authors developed a transition protocol for EPI programs, building on published evidence and stakeholder feedback.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An environmental scan was conducted to identify documents that included guidance on transitioning from EPI. Fifteen documents were retrieved and analyzed with a mixed deductive and inductive approach. The resulting draft protocol was reviewed in virtual focus groups by EPI providers (N=12), former EPI clients (N=5), and family members of EPI clients (N=6) for relevance, feasibility, and completeness. Their cumulative feedback was summarized and used to finalize the protocol.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The resultant protocol included eight components, along with actions for implementation, to help clients plan their next steps postdischarge to continue their recovery. Actions core to the process include early planning for the transition, conducting a structured assessment of client strengths and needs to inform the planning, appointing a designated lead to guide the process, and supporting a warm handover. Engagement of primary care and peer support providers are recommended to support continuity of care. Client and family participation are emphasized at all stages to increase relevance and uptake of follow-up care.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>A standardized transition protocol can provide all clients with the same high-quality approach. It also provides a foundation for improving discharge practices, assessing postdischarge outcomes, and identifying gaps in follow-up care. More timely discharge may increase EPI programs' capacity to serve those in need of care.</p>","PeriodicalId":520759,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)","volume":" ","pages":"839-847"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148261283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}