An Introduction into Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration

This briefing highlighted how behavioral health and primary care integration can help improve the overall health and well-being of individuals, as well as explored the opportunities and challenges in policy and practice. Panelists also discussed potential federal policy levers for better enabling integration.  

Summit on Mental Health in America

The Summit on Mental Health in America will feature industry visionaries, administration executives, and a host of experts to discuss topic areas such as equitable inclusion, innovation, and workforce capacities.

Policy Options to Advance Mental Health Care During Pregnancy

This briefing will examine the difference between perinatal health and perinatal mental health and their intrinsic relationship. Panelists will delve into factors contributing to perinatal health and mental health as well as policy levers and promising solutions available to stakeholders to reduce and prevent mental health symptoms and mood disorders.

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Investing in Mental Health to Support Our Workforce

This briefing examined the burgeoning mental health crisis, partially exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and will explore policy options to support increased mental health wellness at work and at home. This is the final event in Part I of the 2021 Signature Series focused on health and the economy.

COVID-19 Webinar Series Session 19 – Advancing Mental Health During the Pandemic and Beyond

During this webinar, panelists addressed the following learning goals: the short- and long-term impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well being; evidence-based interventions and promising technology to reach people where they are and improve outcomes; and sustainable solutions to address the mental health impact of COVID-19 and advance access to behavioral health services beyond the pandemic.

Our 2018 Speakers

Chronic Pain & Opioid Addiction: The Role of Integrated Care

The opioid addiction crisis has thrown a spotlight on the physical and behavioral health issues surrounding chronic pain. This briefing examined innovative non-pharmacologic models to address chronic pain, including among the military and veteran population and through state Medicaid and safety net programs.

Assessing Innovations in Medicaid

Medicaid is testing numerous new alternative payment and delivery system models to enhance the coordination of the health care services provided to millions of low-income Americans. This briefing examined the range of Medicaid’s efforts to improve care and promote value, including integrating health with non-clinical and behavioral services, creating managed care organizations, and instituting regional care collaborative organizations. Our panel also addressed Medicaid’s role in managing emerging issues such as the opioid epidemic and the spread of the Zika virus.

Briefing for Reporters on State Health Initiatives

A governor met with reporters Friday, February 19 to discuss the latest health care innovations and changes they are pursuing or implementing. Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., discussed his experience with the state’s program to move newly eligible Medicaid beneficiaries to qualified health plans, and his intentions for changes moving forward.

Health Care Out from Behind Bars: Meeting Reentering Prisoners’ Needs Efficiently

Research shows that approximately 40 percent of former federal prisoners and over 60 percent of former state prisoners are rearrested within three years of release and many are re-incarcerated. Individuals transitioning into and out of the criminal justice system include many low-income adults with significant physical and mental health needs. Through outreach and education, correctional facilities are increasingly playing a key role in connecting eligible individuals to health care coverage and other social supports to facilitate their reintegration into the community. The Medicaid coverage expansion is also providing new opportunities to increase health care access to this particular population and potentially improving health outcomes, while bringing down costs. This briefing, the last in our “Medicaid: Beyond the Silos” series, built on last year’s correctional health briefing, with an added focus on reentry programs, and further explored the intersection of health policy and the criminal justice system.

High-Need, High-Cost Patients: The Role of Behavioral Health

Behavioral health conditions, including mental health issues and substance use disorders, affect nearly one in five Americans and account for $57 billion in health care costs annually. This briefing discussed current initiatives to integrate behavioral and physical health care services in order to improve quality of care and reduce overall health care costs.

Between Two Worlds: Adolescents and Our Health Care System

Adolescence is a time of physical, emotional, and cognitive transition between the worlds of childhood and adulthood. This time can include the onset of chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension, and schizophrenia, yet teens may have difficulty accessing appropriate care for their physical and mental health needs. Emerging models around the country may be improving adolescents’ access to appropriate care, but the evidence suggests many needs are not being met.

Prescription Opioid Abuse: Fighting Back on Many Fronts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drug overdose is the leading cause of injury death in the United States. In 2010, opioid pain relievers accounted for approximately 17,000 of overdose deaths— more than twice the number of deaths from cocaine and heroin combined. Despite the tremendous importance of prescription drugs in treating pain, some medications have a high risk of being misused or abused. Some researchers have voiced concerns that prescription painkillers could even be a gateway drug for heroin users. With the steady rise in prescription rates and drug overdose deaths, policymakers are coming to a consensus that this national problem must be addressed.

Is the Mind Part of the Body? The Challenge of Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care in a Reform Era

As more people gain coverage that includes behavioral health benefits, and given a limited supply of mental health professionals, analysts and advocates are raising concerns over how and whether new laws and regulations will be able to change that situation. One option being explored in many settings is the integration of behavioral health services with primary care. There is early evidence that coordinating care in this manner may deliver high-quality care more efficiently.