Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care in 2015: One-Third Achieve Close Collaboration On-Site

Sea Girt, NJ, July 20, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Almost one third—31 percent—of healthcare organizations report they have achieved "close collaboration onsite in a partly integrated system," according to results of a May 2015 survey on Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care sponsored by the Healthcare Intelligence Network.

This integration level is one of six defined by the Center for Integrative Health Solutions (CIHS).

Overall, 62 percent of survey respondents have achieved some degree of integration of behavioral and physical health, ranging from minimal collaboration (5 percent) to full collaboration in a fully integrated system (17 percent).

Download more metrics from the complimentary HINtelligence report, Integrating Behavioral Health & Primary Care in 2015: One-Third Achieve Close Collaboration On-Site, at http://www.hin.com/library/registerIntegratedBehavioralHealthcare.html

Behavioral health conditions affect nearly one of five Americans, leading to healthcare costs of $57 billion yearly, according to a 2009 AHRQ brief. Provisioned in the Affordable Care Act as essential health benefit, integration of behavioral and physical health services helps to ensure access by all individuals to preventive, ongoing and appropriate behavioral health services as part of a whole-person healthcare approach.

When colocation isn't possible, telehealth can help to bridge the care gaps. Twenty-one percent of respondents conduct behavioral health consults via telehealth. "Psychiatrists and independently licensed practitioners are hard to find in our rural area," said one survey respondent. "Telehealth is consistently used to meet demand, often with staff sitting in 'live' with the member."

Sixty percent of respondents expect to achieve some level of behavioral health and primary care integration in the next 12 months, the survey determined.

News Facts: HIN's white paper, Integrating Behavioral Health & Primary Care in 2015: One-Third Achieve Close Collaboration On-Site, summarizes May 2015 responses from 113 hospitals, health plans, behavioral health providers, physician practices, community health centers and others on integrated healthcare and its challenges, program components, screening tools, benefits, impact and ROI.

This 2015 status report on integration of behavioral health and primary care also identified the following metrics:

- Twenty-nine percent report that reimbursement and funding for integrated care is the greatest challenge faced by their organization.

- Medicaid beneficiaries are the individuals most often served by integrated programs, say 80 percent of respondents

- The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) is the top behavioral health screening tool, with PHQ-9 use reported by 80 percent of responding programs.

- Assessment and referrals to behavioral health is the top component of integrated programs, say 80 percent of survey respondents.

-Download more metrics from the complimentary HINtelligence report, Integrating Behavioral Health & Primary Care in 2015: One-Third Achieve Close Collaboration On-Site, at http://www.hin.com/library/registerIntegratedBehavioralHealthcare.html

Quote attributable to Melanie Matthews, HIN Executive VP and COO:

"Healthcare costs associated with behavioral health conditions are on par with cancer's. The physical presence of a psychologist in a primary care practice can foster warm handoffs to behavioral health. Over time, and supported with adequate reimbursement, integrated healthcare can help to reduce a significant portion of avoidable emergency room and hospital admissions associated with behavioral health conditions."

Please contact Patricia Donovan to arrange an interview or to obtain additional quotes. For Melanie Matthews's profile, visit http://www.hin.com/bios.html#mm.

Related materials:

Chart of Level of Behavioral Health-Primary Care Integration Achieved: http://www.hin.com/chartoftheweek/levels_of_integration_for_behavioral_health_and_primary_care_printable.html

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About the Healthcare Intelligence Network — HIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 449-4463, e-mail info@hin.com, or visit http://www.hin.com.