-
Recovery Policies Consistently Fail When They Ignore Human Behavior
Recovery policies don't fail because people don't want to change; they fail because they're designed for an idealized version of patients that simply doesn't exist. Policies are built in committee rooms, around rational decision-making, clear consequences, and personal responsibility. However, the...
-
A Call to Amend New York’s Constitution on Mental Health
For decades, New York has been a national leader in advancing mental health policy. Legislators, advocates, providers, and families have fought tirelessly to secure access to treatment, improve insurance coverage, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness. Yet despite these efforts, a...
-
Child Welfare and Behavioral Health: Foster Care, Family Court, and the Policy Intersection
Behavioral Health and Trauma Impacts Behavioral health is not a side issue in the child welfare system but rather is a system pressure that is likely to bring families into court in the first place (CDC, 2026). Research indicates that this is a concern. In a systematic review, Engler et al. (2022)...
-
Telehealth Prescribing Has Proven Its Value. Now Policy Needs to Catch Up
When HHS and DEA announced the fourth extension of telemedicine prescribing flexibilities on January 1, 2026, the news landed without much surprise in behavioral health circles. Clinicians had seen this before, each extension arriving just before the prior one lapsed. By now, the pattern is...
-
A Policy Lens on Psychiatric Overprescribing: Federal Priorities and Provider Impact
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues to emphasize its commitment to strengthening behavioral health care, including mental health and substance use treatment. In June, the agency announced more than $700 million in new funding to expand access to mental health and...
-
New York State Announces Statewide Enhancements to Improve Assisted Outpatient Treatment
Critical Investments from the FY 2026 Budget Standardize 'Enhanced Voluntary Agreements' with Recipients; Improving State Oversight State Also Completes Massive Data Modernization Enhancing Local Coordination and Improving Outcome Monitoring The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH)...
-
New York Behavioral Health Advocates Rally at Capitol, Win Support of 100+ Legislators for Critical Funding Increase
The Mental Health Association in New York State and leading statewide behavioral health and human services organizations have been rallying with legislators at the State Capitol in support of the final budget for FY 2026-27 including a 4% targeted inflationary increase (formerly known as the cost...
-
Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New 10-Year Statewide Effort to Assess Gambling Addiction and Behaviors in New York State
Decade-long Gambling, Health and Recreational Behaviors Study Includes Surveys and Interviews of New Yorkers Across the State Survey Effort Is One of Governor’s State of the State Initiatives and Will Inform Future Support and Services On April 29, 2026, Governor Kathy Hochul...
-
How to Turn Behavioral Health Funding into Measurable Patient Outcomes
California’s recent proposal to implement a 1-nurse-to-6-patient staffing ratio at psychiatric hospitals has sparked widespread concern across the behavioral health system. The emergency regulations are set to take effect as early as June 1, and facilities that fail to meet the new thresholds...
-
Centered in Lived Experiences: Peers Reshape Engagement in California’s CARE Court
Living with the symptoms of a serious mental illness can feel isolating and debilitating. It can also breed distrust, which makes it difficult to accept services and support. These challenges were top of mind when the CARE Act launched in Los Angeles in December 2023, establishing a civil court...
