The Mental Health Evolution

Rachel speaks with Matthew Bergman, founding attorney of the Social Media Victims Law Center, about the landmark KGM verdict — the first social media addiction case in the United States to reach a jury. In March 2026, a Los Angeles jury found Meta and YouTube negligent in the design of their platforms and awarded $6 million in damages to a young woman whose mental health was seriously harmed by her use of Instagram and YouTube beginning at age six. Matthew has spent four years building the legal case that made this moment possible, and the theory at its center is straightforward: this was never about content. It was about a product engineered to be addictive — one that shows kids not what they want to see, but what they cannot look away from. The conversation covers Section 230 and how the product liability approach found a path around it, the eggshell plaintiff doctrine and why blaming the victim failed in court, and what the verdict actually changes for the thousands of similar cases still working through the courts. Matthew also speaks directly to clinicians: ask about social media. When you see anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or suicidality in young patients, social media needs to be part of the assessment. The youth mental health crisis started in 2012 — when content began being fed to kids algorithmically — and the research establishing a causal relationship has only grown stronger since. Resources Mentioned: Articles Referenced: Research Points to How Companies Could Make Social Media Less Addictive for Teens — NPR (March 2026): https://www.npr.org/2026/03/27/nx-s1-5763017/social-media-teens-addictive-design Jury Finds Meta and YouTube Negligent in Landmark Lawsuit on Social Media Safety — NBC News (March 2026): https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/verdict-reached-landmark-social-media-addiction-trial-rcna263421 Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Update — Social Media Victims Law Center: https://socialmediavictims.org/social-media-lawsuits/ Connect with Matthew Bergman: Social Media Victims Law Center: https://socialmediavictims.org Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music by Zach Harrison

In this solo episode, Rachel Harrison takes a break from her usual guest conversations to address something that has been generating a lot of discussion in the mental health community this week: the rebranding of CAQH as DataSpring.

If you have been in mental health practice for any amount of time, you know CAQH. It is the credentialing portal most clinicians and practice owners have relied on for years to maintain licensing, training history, liability insurance, and practice information for insurance credentialing — a system designed so that providers enter their data once and it flows out to multiple payers rather than filling out the same paperwork over and over again for each insurance company.

But CAQH is no longer the nonprofit utility it once was. In January 2026, the organization converted from a nonprofit and became owned by a consortium of 12 of the nation's largest health plans, including UnitedHealth Group, Cigna, Aetna, Humana, Centene, Elevance Health, and several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. And this past week, the organization rebranded as DataSpring, powered by CAQH — a change timed to coincide with the AHIP 2026 conference, a major gathering for health insurance executives.

Rachel walks through what the rebrand actually means, why the ownership shift matters, and what questions every clinician and practice owner should be asking right now. She covers the concerns being raised in the field — including whether payers will use this platform in ways that benefit their own administrative processes at the expense of providers, whether incomplete data could be used to slow credentialing or delay directory listings, and what oversight exists when the governing board is made up of representatives from the very insurers pulling the data.

She is also clear about what we do not yet know: this is a developing situation, independent reporting has not fully caught up, and there is no confirmed evidence yet that providers are being harmed. But the structural shift is significant, and Rachel makes the case that awareness matters even when we do not have all the answers.

Resources Mentioned

• CAQH Rebrands as DataSpring to Power the Next Era of Healthcare Data — Globe Newswire: https://finance.yahoo.com/sectors/healthcare/articles/caqh-rebrands-dataspring-power-next-110700451.html
• Leading Health Plans Become CAQH Owners to Shape the Future of Healthcare Data — Becker's Payer Issues: https://www.beckerspayer.com/m-and-a/major-insurers-take-ownership-of-former-nonprofit-healthcare-data-organization/
• Insurer-Owned CAQH Rebrands to DataSpring — Becker's Payer Issues: https://www.beckerspayer.com/leadership/insurer-owned-caqh-rebrands-to-dataspring/
• When Payers Own the Data: What CAQH's New Structure Means for Provider Revenue and Credentialing — Ventra Health (private company blog; read with that context in mind): https://ventrahealth.com/blog/when-payers-own-the-data-what-caqhs-new-structure-means-for-provider-revenue-credentialing/

Connect with The Mental Health Evolution

• Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast
• Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/
• LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution
• Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music by Zach Harrison

Rachel Harrison speaks with Dr. Nick Shumate, a psychiatrist at the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, whose background is as rare as it is relevant: before medicine, he was a regulatory attorney practicing before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. That combination of clinical training and legal expertise is exactly what drove him to lead a sweeping 50-state review of how the United States is governing artificial intelligence in mental health — research that produced findings every clinician and practice owner needs to understand. The conversation covers what that legislative review actually found: 793 state bills reviewed, 143 with direct or indirect implications for AI in mental health, and just 20 enacted into law across 11 states. Dr. Shumate walks through the four major categories of governance that emerged from the research, explains why the near-total absence of clinicians from the policy-making process is one of the study's most striking findings, and makes the case that the rules being written right now will shape the conditions under which mental health care is delivered for years to come. He and Rachel also dig into the practical questions clinicians face today: what disclosure and informed consent look like when AI is part of the care equation, and why eighty percent of high-acuity patients using AI for mental health support have not told their providers about it. Resources Mentioned: Articles Referenced: AI Chatbots Systematically Violate Mental Health Ethics Standards — Brown University (October 2025): https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-10-21/ai-mental-health-ethics Pennsylvania Sues Character AI over Chatbot Allegedly Posing as a Doctor — NPR (May 2026): https://www.npr.org/2026/05/05/nx-s1-5812861/characterai-chatbot-medical-advice-pennsylvania-lawsuit Governing AI in Mental Health: 50-State Legislative Review — Dr. Nick Shumate et al., JMIR Mental Health: https://mental.jmir.org/2025/1/e80739 Connect with Dr. Nick Shumate: Division of Digital Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center / Harvard Medical School Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Rachel Harrison speaks with Cara Cheevers, Vice President of Coverage Policy at Inseparable, a national mental health advocacy organization working to win better mental health care for everyone in this country. Cara brings more than fifteen years of experience in health equity advocacy, including leading Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act enforcement at the Colorado Division of Insurance. In this conversation, Cara and Rachel dig into something that sits at the heart of the mental health access crisis: the workforce shortage is not simply a supply problem — it is a policy problem. From reimbursement rates that push providers out of insurance networks, to administrative burdens that make accepting insurance feel impossible, to a system that asks clinicians to do more with less, the barriers are structural. And that means the solutions are too. Cara walks through what the data actually shows about workforce shortages, what states like Illinois and Washington are doing right now to move the needle through reimbursement rate mandates and pre-licensure reimbursement requirements, and what both patients and providers can do today to be part of the solution. She also breaks down mental health parity law, explains how patients can file complaints with their state Division of Insurance when they cannot access in-network care, and makes the case that filing those complaints is not just self-advocacy — it is how systemic problems get documented and fixed. Resources Mentioned: Articles Referenced: State of the Behavioral Health Workforce, 2025 — HRSA: https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/Behavioral-Health-Workforce-Brief-2025.pdf State Policies Can Help Address the Mental Health Care Workforce Shortages — Pew Charitable Trusts: https://www.pew.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2026/04/16/state-policies-can-help-address-the-mental-health-care-workforce-shortages Workforce Report — Inseparable: https://www.inseparable.us/workforce/ Connect with Cara Cheevers: Website: https://www.inseparable.us LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-cheevers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iaminseparable/ Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

In this episode, Rachel Harrison speaks with Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi, who represents District 15 in Montgomery County and has served in the Maryland General Assembly since 2019. Delegate Qi sits on the Economic Matters Committee, where her work focuses on consumer protection, business regulation, and positioning Maryland for the industries of the future. This conversation centers on Maryland House Bill 883, legislation she championed to require basic disclosure when consumers interact with AI systems in behavioral health contexts, and what it means that the bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support before stalling in the Senate. Delegate Qi brings both urgency and pragmatism to the conversation, grounding the policy debate in a stark reality: there is currently nothing in Maryland law preventing a chatbot from manipulating a vulnerable person toward self-harm. The second half of the conversation widens the lens to explore how states are increasingly stepping into the AI regulation space in the absence of consistent federal standards, and what mental health professionals and advocates can do right now to move this work forward. Delegate Qi offers a clear-eyed roadmap for effective advocacy, from building coalitions across consumer groups, tech communities, and behavioral health professionals, to reaching legislators early and consistently rather than showing up only at hearings. She closes with a direct call to action for mental health professionals: reach out to your legislators, share your expertise, and show up in Annapolis when the next session begins. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: Maryland House Bill 883 - AI in Behavioral Health Contexts: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/hb0883?ys=2026rs State Mental Health Investments - National Governors Association: https://www.nga.org/news/commentary/state-mental-health-investments/ Tennessee Bans AI Therapy Bots as Chatbot Safety Laws Surge - AI2: https://ai2.work/blog/tennessee-bans-ai-therapy-bots-as-chatbot-safety-laws-surge Connect with Delegate Lily Qi: Website: https://www.lilyqi.com/ Email: [email protected] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lilyqimaryland/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lily-qi-604a9018/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lilyqimaryland Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

Rachel speaks with Dr. Linda Michaels, PsyD, MBA, a psychologist in private practice in Chicago and co-founder of the Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN). Founded in 2017, PsiAN was built to provide a unified voice for psychotherapists across all disciplines and theoretical orientations, advocating for access to quality care and pushing back against the forces reshaping the field. Dr. Michaels brings a rare combination of clinical training and a prior career in business, marketing, and organizational consulting, and that background is evident in how she analyzes the systems bearing down on the profession. The conversation opens with the origins of PsiAN, the research they have conducted with both the public and therapists, and why the organization has made it a priority to cut across the silos that limit collective professional power.

The second half of the conversation takes a direct look at practice management companies and what therapists need to know before working with them. Dr. Michaels walks through PsiAN's research with nearly 700 therapists, revealing that despite promises of higher earnings, half reported making the same or less. She details the near-total insurance company ownership of these platforms, the data privacy concerns including a class action suit against Headway for sharing patient data with Google, and the growing use of therapy session transcripts to train proprietary AI language models. Dr. Michaels closes with a clear message for therapists: every business decision is ultimately a clinical one, and the profession's greatest asset in the face of corporate consolidation is knowledge, standards, and solidarity.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Articles Referenced:

They Thought They Were Doing Good, But It Made People Worse: Why Mental Health Apps Are Under Scrutiny — The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/feb/04/they-thought-they-were-doing-good-but-it-made-people-worse-why-mental-health-apps-are-under-scrutiny

Chatbots and AI Therapy Are Filling Gaps in Mental Health Care, but Regulation is Lagging — Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/04/19/chatbot-therapy-mental-health-regulations/

Practice Management Companies: What Therapists Need to Know — PsiAN: https://www.psian.org/practice-management-companies

Connect with Dr. Linda Michaels and PsiAN:

Website: https://www.psian.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psianofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/psian/

Connect with The Mental Health Evolution:

Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast

Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution

LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution

Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

In this episode, Rachel Harrison speaks with Naveen Raman, a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University whose research focuses on sequential decision making and the integration of human feedback into AI systems. Naveen is a developer behind PeerCoPilot, an AI powered assistant being tested in real behavioral health settings to support peer support workers in their day to day sessions. The conversation explores how PeerCoPilot works, from its curated database of vetted local resources to its built in tools for benefits navigation, web search, and structured wellness planning, and why the decision to avoid drawing from the open internet was central to its design. The second half of the conversation digs into the safeguards built into PeerCoPilot, including what Naveen describes as a Swiss cheese model of defense where no single layer of protection carries the full responsibility for catching errors. Rachel and Naveen explore the question of whether tools like this could eventually be used directly by service users, the practical and ethical complexities that come with that, and the broader vision for expanding PeerCoPilot to other peer organizations, county level resource hubs, and systems like 211. Naveen closes with a clear message for anyone thinking about AI in the mental health space: powerful tools still need to be carefully tailored to their specific context to truly serve the people within them. RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced: AI Use in Mental Health Help Seeking and Support — PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12595529/ Human in the Loop, AI in Healthcare Systems — Frontiers in Psychiatry: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1505024/full PeerCoPilot: AI Assistant for Behavioral Health Navigation — Carnegie Mellon University: https://www.cs.cmu.edu/news/2026/peer-copilot Connect with Naveen Raman: Website: http://naveenraman.com Connect with The Mental Health Evolution: Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this solo episode, Rachel Harrison explores the reality of mental health parity enforcement through the lens of a recent case involving Aetna. She breaks down what mental health parity is intended to achieve under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and why, despite being in place for nearly two decades, the gap between policy and practice remains significant. Using the Pennsylvania fine against Aetna as a case study, Rachel walks through the specific violations uncovered, including claim delays, improper denials, and lack of transparency, and explains how these issues directly impact patients, providers, and access to care.

The episode then broadens to examine the larger enforcement landscape, highlighting similar actions across states and the growing importance of state-level oversight as federal enforcement becomes less certain. Rachel also reflects on broader policy conversations happening at the state level, including efforts in places like Maryland to improve transparency and accountability in insurance reimbursement practices. The conversation raises important questions about accountability, the effectiveness of financial penalties, and what meaningful enforcement should look like moving forward. It ultimately offers a grounded, forward-looking perspective for clinicians, practice owners, and mental health leaders navigating insurance systems today.

RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced:

Shapiro Administration Protects Consumers, Fines Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Laws — Pennsylvania Insurance Department: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/insurance/newsroom/shapiro-admin-protects-consumers-fines-aetna-violation-mental-health-parity-laws

Pennsylvania Insurance Regulators Fine Aetna for Violations of Mental Health Parity Regulations — Philadelphia Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/health/aetna-fine-pennsylania-mental-health-parity-20260303.html

Health Insurers Pay Penalty for Mental Health Parity Compliance Failures — HIPAA Journal: https://www.hipaajournal.com/health-insurers-penalty-mental-health-parity-compliance/

Departments Announce Non-Enforcement of 2024 Mental Health Parity Rule — APA Services: https://www.apaservices.org/practice/news/nonenforcement-2024-mental-health-parity-rule

Related Episode:

Mental Health Parity Advocacy and Policy with Deborah Steinberg https://pod.link/1724750091/episode/OWQ5YmYzMzMtZmQ5ZS00ZjUyLWFkMDEtZmFiZDdlNmVmNzZh

CONNECT WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH EVOLUTION

Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode, Rachel is joined by Adrienne Wilkerson, founder and CEO of Beacon Media and Marketing and author of Digital Marketing for Mental Health. Adrienne brings a deeply informed perspective shaped by her experience growing up in a therapy practice and working closely with behavioral health organizations. Together, they explore how the mental health landscape is rapidly evolving as private equity backed organizations, larger systems, and AI driven tools reshape how practices compete for visibility. Adrienne shares what makes marketing in mental health fundamentally different, emphasizing the importance of empathy, ethical responsibility, and true human connection when reaching individuals in vulnerable moments.

As the conversation continues, Rachel and Adrienne dig into the growing influence of AI in marketing and the broader mental health space. They unpack both the opportunities and risks, including the rise of AI generated content, the erosion of trust online, and concerning trends such as individuals turning to AI for support. Adrienne highlights the increasing difficulty of tracking marketing effectiveness, the return to less predictable attribution models, and the pressure this places on small practice owners. The episode closes with a forward looking perspective on how clinicians and organizations can adapt by staying grounded in authenticity, maintaining ethical standards, and prioritizing meaningful connection in an increasingly complex digital environment.

RESOURCES MENTIONED Articles Referenced:

Inside the Consolidation Renaissance Across Digital Behavioral Health — Behavioral Health Business: https://bhbusiness.com/2026/03/25/inside-the-consolidation-renaissance-across-digital-behavioral-health/

How AI Is Changing Online Marketing for Small Businesses — Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nishacharya/2025/10/14/how-ai-is-changing-online-marketing-for-small-businlesses/

Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct — American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index

Connect with Adrienne Wilkerson:

Beacon Media and Marketing: https://www.beaconmm.com/ Digital Marketing for Mental Health (Book): https://digitalmarketingbook.beaconmm.com/

Connect with The Mental Health Evolution:

Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: /thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: /the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: /TheMentalHealthEvolution

Music Credit: Music by Zach Harrison

🎧 Show Notes – Episode 34

Mental Health Access, Telehealth Policy & the Future of Behavioral Health Care with Andrea Fox

In this episode of Mental Health Evolution, host Rachel Harrison speaks with Andrea Fox, Senior Editor at Healthcare IT News, about the evolving landscape of mental health access in the United States.

Andrea brings more than two decades of experience covering healthcare technology, public health, and government policy, offering a grounded perspective on how telehealth expansion, regulatory uncertainty, and system-level barriers are shaping behavioral health care delivery today.

Together, they explore what has meaningfully improved in access to mental health services since the rise of telehealth, where gaps still exist—particularly in rural and underserved communities—and why policy uncertainty continues to affect both providers and patients.

The conversation also dives into the ongoing challenges surrounding telehealth prescribing regulations for controlled substances, the impact of insurance reimbursement structures on access to care, and how emerging efforts to integrate social determinants of health data could reshape behavioral health systems in the future.

Finally, Andrea and Rachel discuss broader structural barriers—including provider shortages, cost, fragmented systems of care, and uneven access—and reflect on what a truly integrated, patient-centered mental health system could look like if policy and technology evolve in alignment.

🧠 Key Topics Covered

• Major shifts in mental health access driven by telehealth
• Persistent rural and underserved community access gaps
• Federal policy uncertainty around telehealth prescribing rules
• Insurance reimbursement and its impact on care delivery
• Provider shortages and systemic behavioral health barriers
• Social determinants of health data and care coordination
• The future of integrated, patient-centered mental health systems

📰 Resources Mentioned

• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/where-telehealth-stands-shutdown-every-day-goes-its-worse
• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telehealth-prescribers-urge-feds-act-quickly-virtual-rx
• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/stakeholders-ask-new-dea-administrator-resolve-telehealth-prescribing-rules
• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/addressing-behavioral-health-resources-and-costs-ohio

🎙 About the Guest

Andrea Fox is Senior Editor at Healthcare IT News. She has spent more than two decades covering healthcare technology, public health, and government policy, with a focus on telehealth, digital health infrastructure, and behavioral health access.

Her reporting highlights how policy decisions and technological systems shape real-world access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Recent work:

• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telepsychiatry-may-still-be-out-reach-low-access-areas
• https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/how-rural-mississippi-plans-put-federal-funds-work-addressing-health-it-needs

🔗 Connect with Mental Health Evolution

Website: https://www.traumaspecialiststraining.com/mental-health-evolution-podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thementalhealthevolution/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-mental-health-evolution Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMentalHealthEvolution

🎶 Music Credit

Music by Zach Harrison

💬 Closing Reflection

This episode highlights a central tension in modern mental health care: while telehealth and digital tools have expanded access, structural challenges—including funding, regulation, and system fragmentation—continue to limit equitable care. The future of behavioral health will depend on how effectively policy, technology, and care delivery systems evolve together.