Bracing For Enforcers' Growing Focus On Behavioral Health

Shareholder Jeff Fitzgerald discusses the sharp increase in federal scrutiny of behavioral healthcare providers as agencies intensify enforcement efforts around alleged healthcare fraud and compliance failures. He highlights that recent settlements involving behavioral health organizations point to growing regulatory focus on billing practices, telehealth, licensing, referrals and operational controls, regardless of provider size. Fitzgerald emphasizes that providers should proactively strengthen compliance programs, conduct targeted risk assessments and implement stronger controls around coding, documentation and financial relationships to reduce exposure in an increasingly aggressive enforcement environment.