Azara Healthcare, which offers population health and value-based care solutions, announced the launch of consumer-focused Smart Summary, a new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven functionality designed to help health care organizations quickly identify care gaps and support faster, more informed decision-making. The new capability delivers concise, high-value summaries in the Azara DRVS Care Management Passport and Measure…

The Hawaii Department of Human Services (DHS) released a request for proposals (RFP-MQD-2026-001) to rebid its Community Care Services (CCS) Program behavioral health organization (BHO) contract for statewide management of adult community mental health services. The incumbent contractor, Ohana Health Plan (a Centene subsidiary), has held the contract since 2013. The RFP was released February…

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) rescinded its Request for Proposal (RFP) to restructure administration of Medicaid specialty behavioral health services following a January 8, 2026 court ruling. The court found that the proposed restructuring conflicted with state law governing funding for community mental health service programs (CMHSPs) and gave MDHHS three…

Medicare Advantage (MA) members enrolled in value-based care (VBC) arrangements had 13.4% fewer emergency department visits and 7.6% fewer inpatient hospital admissions compared to MA members not aligned with VBC providers, according to Humana’s 12th Annual Value-Based Care Report. The report analyzes 2024 data across Humana’s Medicare Advantage and Medicaid populations and attributes improvements in quality,…

The number of child Medicaid beneficiaries with mental health or substance use disorders who received treatment in primary care via the psychiatric collaborative care model (CoCM) increased dramatically between 2018 and 2023. For children ages 6 to 11, the number served through CoCM increased from 66 in 2018 to 2,530 in 2023. For older children…

According to a new report, the use of the psychiatric collaborative care model (CoCM) in primary care to treat commercially insured individuals with a mental health or substance use (MHSU) diagnosis increased 26-fold between 2018 and 2024. The rate per 100,000 commercially insured members with an MHSU diagnosis rose from 12 in 2018 to 317…

MotivHealth, which administers self-funded employer-sponsored health plans, announced it has expanded into Georgia and Wisconsin. With this growth, MotivHealth is offering self-funded and level-funded solutions to employers. The organization’s approach includes proactive consumer advocacy, cost containment strategies, and technology-driven solutions that enhance health care accessibility and affordability. It offers programs to reward members for making…

Wider Circle, a nationwide community-powered health organization, announced a new partnership with CalOptima Health to improve outcomes for dual-eligible Medicare-Medicaid members in California. Supported by a grant from the California Health Care Foundation, the program with CalOptima Health will connect its Medicare Advantage Dual-Eligible Special Needs Plan (D-SNP) through peer-driven circles that help individuals access…

Georgia has fined 11 health insurers for violations of the state’s mental health parity laws, issuing penalties totaling nearly $25 million. The fines, announced January 12, 2026, followed market conduct examinations conducted by the Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner (OCI). The largest fine—more than $10.2 million—was levied against Oscar Health Plan of Georgia.…

Spring Health, a global mental health platform for employers and health plans, announced an agreement to acquire Alma, a membership-based platform that helps independent mental health professionals accept insurance. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Alma’s platform enables clinical…