AT THIS HOUR

52%: The portion of telehealth services utilized in the first quarter of 2026 related to mental health conditions, according to a FAIR Health tracker, making behavioral health the main category of telehealth use by far. Coming in way behind at 2nd, with 4.9% of overall telehealth services, respiratory diseases and infections, followed by overweight/obesity related calls at 3.6%. 

Science: A three-year study of nearly 4,000 adults ranging from age 19 to 94 has found that our brain health can improve at any age, challenging the common belief that mental sharpness declines as we get older. Participants spent just a few minutes a day on brain-training activities, and researchers from the University of Texas’s BrainHealth Center in Dallas found measurable gains like thinking clarity, emotional well-being, and sense of purpose. See the study details.

Sport: A screening of The Boston Bulldogs documentary will be coming to Cape Cod mid July and feature a special sports guest moderator, Trenni Casey of NBC Sports Boston, plus a musical performance. Event is July 16, 7pm, LCTV Studios, Orleans Mass. Register here as seats are limited. Watch a new 8-minute preview of the film here.

Policy: A new Aetna policy will pay the same rate for evaluating and managing patients with highly complex needs as moderately complex ones, and lower reimbursement rates for doctoral-level clinicians to equal master’s level clinicians for evaluation sessions. The changes are a bit perplexing given they could change the economics for providers and shift to better margin care led by master’s level clinicians. The policy also comes amidst a new on-demand mental health service offering for teens on up. In 2027, Aetna will roll out these on-demand clinicians trained for single session therapy.  They say someone will be available in less than 15 seconds. Think sessions to help people maneuver through an upcoming stressful trip, or talk through how a social media post made them feel depressed.‍ ‍Story details.

Perspective: That day I sat down with Rosa….essay here.

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