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The DNP Dispatch
Practice News You Need To Know
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Who Really Owns Headway, Alma, and Rula—And Why Cigna’s Downcoding Rule Could Cost You
The mental health tech boom has promised clinicians simpler credentialing, faster payments, and access to large insurance networks. Companies like Headway, Alma, and Rula (formerly Path) have marketed themselves as friendly practice-building partners. But behind the branding is a reality every provider should understand: these companies are heavily funded by—and increasingly intertwined with—the very insurance giants that control how (and how much) clinicians get paid.
DNP Consulting
Aug 283 min read


Nurse Practitioner Sues Missouri Over Collaborative Practice Laws: Could It Change the Game Nationally?
On August 21, 2025, Missouri nurse practitioner Marcy Markes filed a landmark lawsuit against the state, challenging the requirement that nurse practitioners (NPs) enter into Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) with physicians.
DNP Consulting
Aug 273 min read


Breaking: Cigna’s New Automatic Downcoding Policy—What Providers Need to Know and How to Fight Back
Cigna has announced a controversial new reimbursement rule that could dramatically impact physicians and advanced practice providers across the country. Beginning October 1, 2025, Cigna will implement a policy called “Evaluation & Management Coding Accuracy (R49).”
DNP Consulting
Aug 263 min read


Master Virtual Practice Management with Ease
Starting and running a mental health practice today means embracing technology. Virtual practice tools are no longer optional - they are...
DNP Consulting
Aug 264 min read


Protecting Your Mental Health Practice from Misclassification Risk: Why Business-to-Business Contracts Matter for 1099 NPs and Therapists
As a mental health practice, you may rely on independent contractors like nurse practitioners (NPs) and therapists to provide essential...
DNP Consulting
Aug 123 min read


Breaking News: Wisconsin NPs have Path to Independent Practice
We’re thrilled to share some long-awaited news for Wisconsin Nurse Practitioners: Governor Evers has officially signed Assembly Bill 257, now 2025 Wisconsin Act 17 — the APRN Modernization Act — into law on August 8, 2025.
DNP Consulting
Aug 112 min read
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