Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Comorbid Behavioral and Medical Problems

Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Comorbid Behavioral and Medical Problems Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Comorbid Beh. and Med. Problems Overview There is increasing clinical and policy focus on the impact of mental health and substance abuse issues on patient medical status and health care utilization and outcomes. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement IHI observes that while behavioral presence in primary care is not the norm, it is moving in that direction (Laderman, 2014). In response to these concerns, a new industry is in development - the collaboration of behavioral health clinicians (BHC) in primary care practice. We earlier observed the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) endorsement of BH as part of the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH). The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has established an Integration Academy. In a survey of the National Committee for Quality Assurance, PCMHs, representing almost 40% of primary care practices surveyed, had some behavioral presence (Kessler 2014a). The general standard of care has used a refer out model. Recent efforts typically take one of two models of delivering such care within primary care: co-located or integrated. (Heath, 2013 Yr 3 Kessler Supplement to: Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care for Comorbid and Behavioral and Medical Problems