As 2026 begins, it’s the perfect time to look at the major policy themes shaping behavioral health in the year ahead, including access and coverage, care coordination and the rapid integration of digital tools into mental health and substance use care. Telehealth and Medicaid remain central to expanding access, alongside rural health initiatives and public-private partnerships focused on equity and innovation.
These themes were also front and center at the 2025 Behavioral Health Tech Conference (BHT 2025), where industry leaders, policymakers and innovators gathered in San Diego to discuss the evolving regulatory and market landscape. URAC presented at BHT 2025, sharing insights on mental health and substance use parity, including our ParityManager™ software and corresponding parity accreditation, as well as our first-of-its-kind accreditation for the use of responsible AI in health care.
