Jail DBT skills group shows small coping gains in 640-person trial; CMS reaches final year of psychotherapy valuation increase

• Research Nov 2, 2026
  Jail-adapted DBT skills group yields small gains in coping and in-custody behavior in 640-person randomized trial
  The preregistered randomized controlled trial in Psychological Services assigned 640 people incarcerated in a county jail (83% male) to a 12-session dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) skills group or a control treatment. Small effects of DBT were observed for improved adaptive coping, decreased antisocial behavior in custody and more positive perceptions of reentry capabilities and support, the authors reported.
  Sources: Psychological Services, PubMed
• Payment Nov 4, 2026
  CMS 2027 fee schedule completes psychotherapy valuation increase and raises Collaborative Care Model values
  In the calendar year 2027 physician fee schedule final rule released Nov. 4, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made 2027 the final year of a four-year transition, finalized in the 2024 rule, that adjusts work relative value units for psychotherapy upward, and added smoking cessation and SBIRT services. CMS finalized higher work values for Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model services and updated clinical labor rates for the behavioral health care manager. The conversion factor falls 2.31% for clinicians outside qualifying alternative payment models.
  Sources: CMS fact sheet, CMS press release

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