Archive summary Policy
Do gut bacteria contribute to ethnic health disparities?
The bacteria living in our guts play a major role in health, and some studies have found an association between ethnicity and the makeup of these microbial communities.…
Section
Policy & payers
Parity enforcement, Medicaid and CCBHC rules, prior authorization, telehealth policy, 988 funding and payer coverage decisions that change how a practice bills and operates.
387 articles · page 10 of 10 · Jul 28, 2025 – Dec 12, 2025
Archive summary Policy
How COVID-19 affects women's sexual and reproductive health
In a previous Special Feature, we covered the role of biological sex differences in the spread of the new coronavirus. Here, we look at how the pandemic is affecting…
Archive summary Policy
What to know about toxic masculinity
Toxic masculinity is a term often used to describe the negative aspects of exaggerated masculine traits. The term has evolved over time and has a place both in academia…
Archive summary Policy
LGBTQ youth mental health: Trevor Project survey highlights disparities
The Trevor Project — the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for young LGBTQ people — has published the results of its third annual…
Archive summary Policy
What are the effects of racism on health and mental health?
Racism may be responsible for increasing physical and mental health disparities among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Racism can affect a person’s health…
Archive summary Policy
What to know about depression in Black communities
Depression is about as prevalent in Black communities as in white ones, but there are significant differences. Black people face different social pressures that may…
Archive summary Policy
What are food deserts, and how do they impact health?
Food deserts are regions where people have limited access to healthful and affordable food. This may be due to having a low income or having to travel farther to find…
Archive summary Policy
Through my eyes: Living as a woman of transgender experience
Design by Medical News Today; photography courtesy of Corey Rae. In the hopes of humanizing our community to the general public, I’ve made it my career to help bridge…
Archive summary Policy
WA fines Regence Blue Shield $550K over shortfalls with mental health coverage
Washington state has fined health insurance giant Regence Blue Shield $550,000 for failing to demonstrate that its mental health coverage is comparable to its medical or…
Archive summary Policy
Childhood adversity linked to heart disease in middle age
Growing up in a challenging family environment is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality in middle age, according to a large prospective…
Archive summary Policy
‘We all bleed the same color’: Why do Black women in the UK experience disparities in gynecological care?
In this article, we learn about the gynecological healthcare experiences of Black women in the United Kingdom. We also speak with Dr. Christine Ekechi, who is a co-chair…
Archive summary Policy
Mental health for transgender men: What to know
Transgender men face a number of unique mental health concerns. Working past personal and societal stigmas may help them access care and find the help they need. Some…
Archive summary Policy
The 'model minority' myth: Its impact on well-being and mental health
The “model minority” myth implies that certain ethnic minorities are better than others: better at adjusting to a different culture, more hardworking, more academically…
Archive summary Policy
Undocumented Latinx migrants 'have endured so much trauma'
Undocumented migrants in the United States — a majority of whom are Latinx — face high rates of mental health problems but receive little or no formal support. In an…
Archive summary Policy
LGBTQIA+ affirmation and safety: 'Belonging, like air, is a fundamental human need'
Being able to safely affirm one’s gender identity and sexual orientation is crucial to mental and physical well-being. Yet many LGBTQIA+ people face enormous challenges…
Archive summary Policy
Why mental healthcare is not a safe space for undocumented migrants
People living in the United States with undocumented status often face higher rates of mental health problems but are unable to access appropriate formal care. We have…
Archive summary Policy
Misdiagnosis, mistreatment, and living with endometriosis as a Black woman
Design by Medical News Today; photograph courtesy Nadine Dirks On average, endometriosis — a painful inflammatory disease most commonly of the ovaries, fallopian tubes,…
Archive summary Policy
What to know about racial trauma
Racial trauma is the ongoing result of racism, racist bias, and exposure to racist abuse in the media. Racial trauma can affect many aspects of a person’s life,…
Archive summary Policy
$450k in Mental Health Parity Penalties Issued to UnitedHealthcare
The Delaware Department of Insurance announced a follow-up Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act examination of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company and assessed a…
Archive summary Policy
Transgender Louisianians on Medicaid being denied coverage for gender-affirming care
Transgender Louisianians enrolled in Medicaid are facing sudden denials of coverage for gender-affirming care, including hormone replacement therapy and surgeries, after…
Archive summary Policy
New tool brings mental health parity problems to light
The AMA and The Kennedy Forum have launched an interactive mapping tool to expose how well commercial insurance plans comply with mental health parity laws. The Mental…
Archive summary Policy
Trump’s Rollback of Rules for Mental Health Coverage Could Lead More Americans to Go Without Care
The Trump administration has paused new mental health parity rules issued in the final months of the Biden presidency, and Congress has curtailed funding for the…
Archive summary Policy
Insurance commissioner issues $20M in fines over mental health coverage
Insurance commissioner issues $20M in fines over mental health coverage This development represents an important step in addressing mental health and behavioral health…
Archive summary Policy
Medicaid cuts to begin soon in NC, including ending coverage of weight loss drugs
Medicaid cuts to begin soon in NC, including ending coverage of weight loss drugs This initiative focuses on expanding Medicaid coverage for mental health and behavioral…
Archive summary Policy
Participants Lack Awareness of Mental Health Coverage Despite Improved Offerings
An Employee Benefit Research Institute survey found that 39% of health plan participants were unsure whether mental health services were covered in the same way as…
Archive summary Policy
Trump Medicaid Cuts Could Cost Kids Coverage That Aids Learning
Medicaid faces massive cuts starting in 2027 as part of President Donald Trump's budget proposal, with Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cuts…
Archive summary Policy
PolitiFact FL: Is Newsom right that Florida is worst for mental health, home insurance and more?
California Governor Gavin Newsom claimed on July 18 that Florida ranks "51 in mental health care, 1 in home insurance costs, 1 in elder fraud, 1 in rent hikes." A…