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Latest News Around the Web

Preliminary data show ACA enrollment is down by 1.4M compared to last year

The New York Times (1/13, Abelson, Sanger-Katz) says some “1.4 million fewer people have enrolled in [ACA] coverage this year in the face of soaring premiums, according to an early report, following the expiration of the enhanced subsidies that helped lower the cost of health insurance for millions of Americans.” Data released “by the federal government on Monday indicated that 22.8 million Americans had enrolled in Affordable Care Act plans starting Jan. 1, down from 24.2 million enrolled through the end of the sign-up period last year. They are the first official figures showing the effects of the change in policy.” These “new data covered sign-ups through Jan. 3. People can still enroll through Thursday.”

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— The New York Times (requires login and subscription)

Weekend Catch-Up Sleep May Reduce Daily Depressive Symptoms In Late Adolescents And Young Adults, Study Suggests

HealthDay (1/13, Solomon) reports a study found that “weekend catch-up sleep (WCS) may reduce the incidence of daily depressive symptoms in late adolescents and young adults.” The researchers observed “that participants with WCS had 41 percent lower odds of daily depressive symptoms versus those without WCS. Results were similar from causal inference and traditional multivariate regression models. A twofold greater benefit on depressive symptoms was seen for both healthy weekday sleep duration and an optimal time.” The study was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

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— “Weekend Catch-Up Sleep Tied to Fewer Depressive Symptoms in Teens,”Mark Arredondo, HealthDay, January 13, 2026

ACA enrollment falls sharply as premiums soar without extended tax credits

NBC News (1/12, Lovelace Jr.) reports, “As open enrollment for Affordable Care Act insurance comes to an end, people are moving to cheaper plans or dropping their coverage entirely, according to state and federal data.” In 2025, “Congress failed to extend enhanced tax credits for [ACA] customers,” leading to “soaring monthly premiums across the U.S.” On Monday, CMS “released datashowing that nationally, sign-ups are down more than 800,000 from last year.” According to NBC News, “fewer new enrollees are signing up and fewer people are renewing their coverage.” In “Idaho, Massachusetts and Virginia, state health officials say roughly twice as many people have dropped their coverage for 2026 compared with the same point last year.” Meanwhile, “in Pennsylvania, terminations have more than tripled, to above 70,000, officials say, and are still growing.”

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— “ACA sign-ups fall as higher premiums push people off plans,” Berkeley Lovelace Jr. , NBC News, January 12, 2026

Certain Depressive Symptoms Experienced During Midlife Are Tied To Greater Risk For Dementia, Research Suggests

Healio (1/12, Rhoades) reports, “Certain depressive symptoms experienced during midlife were tied to a greater risk for dementia, with some increasing the risk by around 50%, according to recently published data.” One study author said the results “show that dementia risk is linked to a handful of depressive symptoms rather than depression as a whole. … This symptom-level approach gives us a much clearer picture of who may be more vulnerable decades before dementia develops.” “Six depressive symptoms emerged as robust midlife indicators of increased dementia risk: Losing confidence in myself” , “Not able to face up to problems” , “Not feeling warmth and affection for others”, “Nervous and strung-up all the time”, “Not satisfied with the way tasks are carried out”, and “Difficulties concentrating” . Associations were independent of established dementia risk factors, including APOEε4 status, cardiometabolic conditions,”

Related Links:

— “Six depressive symptoms during midlife raise dementia risk,”Andrew (Drew) Rhoades , Healio , January 12, 2026

Research Finds Rate Of US Alcohol-Related Hospitalizations Stabilized Between 2016 And 2022 As Mortality Rates, Length Of Stay Increased

Healio (1/8, Herpen) reports, “The rate of alcohol-related hospitalizations in the U.S. stabilized between 2016 and 2022, but mortality rates, length of stay and total health care costs all increased, according to data.” Researchers found that “the mean length of hospital stay for alcohol-related issues increased from 5.6 to 6.2days.” Study results indicate that “hospitalization costs increased even after accounting for inflation and amounted to $32.6 billion in 2022.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.

Related Links:

— “Ancillary concerns related to alcohol-related hospitalizations increased from 2016 to 2022,”Robert Herpen , Healio, January 8, 2026

Foundation News

Schuster to Receive Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award

Janice Lynch Schuster will be awarded the 2020 Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry (MFP) Anti-Stigma Advocacy Prize for her op-ed, “People are not defined by their diseases” in the October 14, 2019 Baltimore Sun. The MFP Board unanimously felt that her article very effectively portrayed not only how hurtful stigma can be, but that health care providers themselves may be the culprits thoughtlessly participating in stigmatizing people – particularly when people are abusing drugs. Her statement inspires others to seek and give help, and to reframe substance abuse as a disease that must be treated scientifically and empathically.

The Anti-Stigma Advocacy Award, which carries a $500 prize, will be formally presented at the Maryland Psychiatric Society annual meeting on October 8.

The Foundation established this annual prize for a worthy piece published in a major newspaper (preferably local or regional) that accomplishes one or more of the following:
Shares with the public their experience with mental illness in themselves, a family
member, or simply in the community.
Helps others to overcome their inability to talk about mental illness or their own mental
illness.
Imparts particularly insightful observations on the general subject of mental illness.

Click here for information about past winners.

New Radio Ad Explores Racial Inequities and Mental Health in Current Crises

Institutional and structural racism are major factors in these times of pandemic and civil unrest. The African American community is particularly hit hard by the coronavirus, police brutality, and the economic burdens that come with them. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

Racial Inequities and Current Crises in AmericaRacial Inequities and Current Crises in America, MP3, 712KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.

The Foundation Strongly Condemns All Forms of Racism

A Message from the Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry Board of Directors:

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry strongly condemns all forms of racism.  The Foundation calls on all Americans and all levels of government to actively oppose racism, and all related violence and brutality. The Foundation recognizes that there are wide disparities in treatment of mental illness and access to care related to race. Consistent with our mission to fight stigma associated with mental illness and to promote awareness and access to care for all individuals regardless of race, the Foundation pledges to support programs which combat racism.

The Maryland Foundation for Psychiatry stands in solidarity with the agendas of the American Psychiatric Association, Maryland Psychiatric Society, and the Black Psychiatrists of America.  We endorse the following action items outlined by the Black Psychiatrists of America:

• Declare racism a public health problem and establish national goals for addressing this as a health equity issue. Give priority to addressing the issues of health care disparities including the mental health needs of historically marginalized communities across the US.
 
• Provide adequate funding for the clinical care, training, and research needed to eliminate health disparities and require racism impact statements for all government funded services and research. 
 
• Establish a governmental multidisciplinary and ethnically diverse commission with representatives from the major health care professional associations in medicine, nursing, psychiatry, public health, psychology, social work, etc., and the faith-based community to provide recommendations to Congress regarding policies on how best to improve the health and well-being of our nation’s Black citizens.
 
• Declare “Civic Mental Health” a national priority and incorporate it into the educational curriculum from K-college, as well as in the training of local, state and national officials, law enforcement, and the criminal justice system. 
 
• Establish police community review boards with power to take action in areas of police misconduct pending formal review by the appropriate authorities. This will offer a level of empowerment when communities feel they have a voice that can be heard. 
 
• Assure adequate insurance coverage for mental disorders and emotional distress that are the outgrowth of racism, police brutality, discrimination of all kinds and violence. 

The Maryland Psychiatric Society has also put out a statement on their website.

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) also condemns racism and has published their statement, too.

New Radio Ad Explores Mental Health in the Wake of the Coronavirus

A recent poll shows that more than half the people in the United States are feeling extremely worried by the coronavirus. They find they aren’t sleeping properly, are distracted, or being driven into depression. The ad explains how there is hope and help available.

The Coronavirus and Your State of MindThe Coronavirus and Your State of Mind, MP3, 721KB

You can listen to the ad using the player in the upper right of the website’s homepage. All past public service spots are also available for listening or to download on our Radio Advertisements page.