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Health insurer Kaiser Foundation Health Plan has agreed to pay about $30 million to settle federal investigations into how it handled mental health and substance use disorder care, after officials found it didn’t maintain good enough provider networks and sometimes denied care based on questionnaire responses. Under the agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor, Kaiser will reimburse members at least $28 million for out-of-network mental health costs they had to pay because they couldn’t get in-network care, and pay a $2.8 million federal penalty.

The company also agreed to reform its policies — including reducing long wait times and improving how it reviews care — so members can actually access medically necessary support. Kaiser said these changes don’t reflect its current practices but acknowledged that more work is needed to align services with members’ mental health needs.

Read More: Kaiser Reaches $30 million settlement With US Labor Dept Over Mental Health Care Practices (Reuters)

As online sports betting explodes — now legal in more than 30 states and used by about 22% of Americans and nearly half of men ages 18–49 — public health experts are warning that the ease of betting on your phone is creating a real addiction risk that can seriously affect mood, finances, sleep, and well-being.  What used to be a weekend casino habit has become 24/7 “micro-betting” on your phone, and people like a Pennsylvania bettor describe compulsive gambling that drained his money and left him depressed and seeking professional help. 

Gambling disorder is now recognized in the same category as drug or alcohol addiction, and about 1 in 5 people with a gambling disorder attempt or complete suicide, highlighting the deep emotional impact.  Because apps make betting always available, researchers say policymakers and communities need public health strategies — like limits, ads controls, and better education — just as we would for other addictive behaviors.

Read More: As Online Betting Surges, So Does Risk of Addiction (Hopkins Bloomberg Public Health)

New research suggests that aerobic exercise like running, swimming, or dancing can be considered a frontline treatment for mild depression and anxiety, especially when done in groups, giving mood a real boost through both movement and social connection. Scientists analyzed 63 previous reviews involving nearly 80,000 people and found that these activities had the strongest impact on reducing symptoms compared with other types of workouts.

Group workouts in particular helped more than going it alone, highlighting how community and movement work together to lift spirits. Experts still say exercise shouldn’t replace therapy or medication for more severe depression — but for mild symptoms, getting your body moving can be a powerful, science-backed tool.

Read More: Exercise Can Be ‘Frontline Treatment’ For Mild Depression, Researchers Say (The Guardian)

MYTH: Someone can’t hold a job if they have a mental illness

FACT: Mental health conditions are real and common. The belief that someone with a mental health condition is unable to work or keep a job is false.

The reality is that people with mental health conditions are just people. If they feel that their workplace is a safe place to be themselves and to ask for what they need, they can be as productive, punctual, dependable and motivated as those who do not have a mental illness.

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