New Report Outlines the “Building Blocks” for Providing Behavioral Health Support in Primary Care Settings
Jun 8, 2022
The Farley Health Policy Center, the Practice Innovation Program at the University of Colorado, and Well Being Trust released their new report, "The Building Blocks of Behavioral Health Integration: A Framework for Care Delivery Expectations" which provides flexible options for primary care clinics to integrate behavioral health that can be utilized as part of alternative payment models supporting whole-person care.
Most people will experience a need for behavioral health services during their lifetime, but many are unable to access this care. Primary care providers are generally the first to see and manage behavioral health needs. Integrating behavioral health services in primary care facilitates access by providing more care options in one place.
Studies show that integrating behavioral healthcare in primary care settings improves outcomes, including:
- Youth receiving integrated care had a 66% probability of having a better behavioral health outcome.
- Adults with depression were 31% more likely to have an improved outcome, compared to those in practices without integrated care.
- Cost savings of 5-10% over a two- to-four-year period, representing a more than two-to-one return on investment.
Despite these benefits, behavioral health integration has yet to be widely implemented in primary care practices. The Farley Health Policy Center is working on overcoming barriers and developing the tools necessary to achieve behavioral health integration.
- Foundational care delivery expectations: Requirements for any practice integrating behavioral health.
- Advanced coordination and care management: Practices develop shared expectations and exchange information with behavioral health providers, manage a registry of patients with target behavioral health conditions, and screen for social needs and link patients and families to services.
- Integrated behavioral health professional: An integrated behavioral health professional (which could be a psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or other licensed professional) works as part of the primary care team.
- Psychiatry: A psychiatrist supports complex diagnostic evaluation and medication management, providing consultation to the primary care provider. They may provide direct patient care either in person or via telehealth.
- Advanced care of substance use disorders: The primary care provider prescribes medication for substance use disorders including tobacco use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and opioid use disorder. Counseling related to substance use disorders is provided in the practice or coordinated with resources outside of the practice.
Foundational Care Delivery Expectations are activities for any practice integrating behavioral health. Practices may implement additional behavioral health integration activities within any of the four components to best serve their patients’ behavioral health needs.
Access the framework and read the full report on the landing page.