Psychiatric News (2/4) reports Congress on Tuesday passed “a $1.2 trillion spending package for fiscal year 2026 that maintained or increased funding for several key mental health agencies, including the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).” The legislation funds most of the federal government through September 30 and “includes authorization and funding for several of APA’s advocacy priorities, including telehealth flexibilities, supporting health equity, and more.” Notably, the package extends “telehealth flexibilities – including waiving the requirement for Medicare patients to have an in-person visit within the past six months to begin” telehealth – for nearly two years, through December 31, 2027.

Related Links:

— “Congress Passes Spending Package With Behavioral Health Investments, Psychiatric News , February 4, 2026

Healio (12/31, Buzby) reported a study found that “early-onset preeclampsia was associated with increased risk for delayed early-childhood development in the domain of problem-solving among preterm children.” The researchers observed that while “other domains of child development were affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and its subtypes, the relationships were not statistically significant.” They concluded, “In this cohort study, fetal exposure to early-onset preeclampsia was associated with a higher risk of a delay pattern in child development in the problem-solving domain. The findings were modified by preterm birth.” The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Early-onset preeclampsia may cause developmental delay in preterm children,”Scott Buzby, Healio, January 1, 2026

USA Today (1/1, Cross) reports that Gen Z is increasingly embracing sobriety, influenced by factors like mental health awareness, financial concerns, and marijuana legalization. Between 2001 and 2023, Gallup “reported an 11% dip in adults between the ages of 18-34 who had at least one alcoholic beverage within the past week.” Meanwhile, “for young adults who may be looking to prioritize their health come the new year, Dry January, in particular, provides a 30-day reset, in which folks may sleep better.” Social media and changing social norms also contribute to this trend. Notably, a 2022 survey conducted by New Frontier Data showed that “69% of adults between 18 and 24 said they preferred marijuana to alcohol.” A 2024 study by McKinsey & Company highlights “that 56% of Gen Zers consider fitness a ‘very high priority’ compared to 40% of other adults in the U.S.”

Related Links:

— “Move over Dry January. Gen Z is already stepping away from alcohol.,”Greta Cross, USA TODAY, January 1, 2026

HealthDay (12/30, Gotkine) reports a study found that “in the past two decades, there were decreases in prescribing of some controlled medications to adolescents and young adults.” The researchers “examined nationwide trends in the prescribing of controlled medications to early adolescents (10 to 12 years), adolescents (13 to 17 years), and young adults (18 to 24 years and 25 to 29 years) enrolled in Medicaid from 2001 to 2019.” They observed that “the annual proportion prescribed any controlled medication peaked at 17.5, 20.6, and 34.1 and 47.0 percent in early adolescents (2003), adolescents (2009), and young adults aged 18 to 24 and 25 to 29 years (2010), respectively. The proportions decreased to 11.7, 12.6, and 16.2 and 23.9 percent, respectively, by 2019.” The researchers also highlighted “variation in trends by medication and age.” The study was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Related Links:

— “Prescribing of Some Controlled Medications Decreased in Youth Over Past Two Decades,”Elana Gotkine, HealthDay, December 30, 2025

Politico (12/29, Ollstein, Fertig) reports, “At least a dozen states are working to shield people from soaring health insurance costs following Congress’ failure to extend” Affordable Care Act “subsidies for tens of millions of Americans.” These “efforts, which include actions taken by state leaders in California, Colorado and Maryland, in nearly every case come with a major caveat: They will only be able to help a portion of the people whose health insurance will be too expensive without the enhanced subsidies that Congress opted not to renew before leaving Washington for the year.”

Related Links:

— “States step into the breach as Obamacare subsidies lapse,”Alice Miranda Ollstein and Natalie Fertig , Politico, December 29, 2025