Significance Of Integrating Behavioral Health Into Value-Based Care

Physical and mental health is increasingly recognized as being intimately related to each other by clinicians and healthcare policymakers. Through care coordination, behavioral health integration (BHI), and chronic care management (CCM), this viewpoint is increasingly impacting the objectives and focus of value-based care (VBC).

Mental or behavioral health disorders or difficulties are the reason behind up to 75% of primary care visits. Furthermore, VBC now accounts for more than 40% of all accepted alternative payment methods.

How value-based care is supported by behavioral health?

It has been demonstrated that treating patients' mental health issues or behavioral health can save overall healthcare costs and enhance both physical and emotional well-being.

Behavioral health integration is one of the Medicare care management systems that integrate mental health services with primary care. It covers mental health, drug use disorders, and physical symptoms connected to stress. Value-based care is supported by offering BHI as a remote care service in multiple ways, whether or not CCM is included.

BHI Boosts Physical & Mental Wellness Results

As per the American Hospital Association (AHA), BHI services can improve value not only for the patients but also for families, caregivers, healthcare providers, and the overall healthcare system. According to one study, patients with anxiety and depression fared much better when using a collaborative treatment approach.

Also, BHI improves depression scores and patient and physician experiences by:

• Reduced health care expenses 

The cost-cutting benefits of integrated behavioral health include lower use, as seen by lower admission and emergency department rates. In the US, integrated behavioral health is thought to be able to save $38–68 billion on medical expenses each year. In order to monitor high-need patients, check for mental health issues, and give consultations, behavioral health specialists were co-located in primary care settings.

• Improved drug compliance and treatment plan

Clinicians can enhance the patient-doctor relationship, foster a culture of trust, and explore the connection between mental and physical health by offering behavioral health support. Patients are motivated to adhere to their treatment plan when it is approached from a holistic standpoint. They receive information or support regarding what will enable them to reach their objectives as well as the rationale behind their medication or treatment.

• Identification of behavioral factors and symptoms 

Treatment and diagnosis might be elusive when behavioral problems are the root cause. Doctors can identify and treat physical problems that have a mental health underpinning by conducting mental health assessments.

• Boost patient happiness and satisfaction ratings 

A more seamless care model can be achieved by integrating mental and physical health treatments. Efficient patient access, prompt medical attention, and continuous support for both physical and mental health concerns can all be improved by using BHI as a care management solution. Also, patient experience is greatly impacted by these care-related factors, which also have an effect on quality performance metrics that result in increased reimbursement.

Which approach is the best for integrating BHI services?

The patient population, community ties, value-based care agreements, and resources available to an organization all influence the best approach. Develop a BHI program on your own with support personnel, using the same procedures that are used to construct a CCM program.

When it comes to incorporating behavioral health into primary care, practices that currently run a chronic care management program have an advantage. These practices are equipped with the operational workflows, standards, and technologies necessary to manage BHI's regular and remote care. Value-based practices are increasingly integrating behavioral health specialists into their primary care clinics through partnerships or recruiting them.

In order to offer integrated care under a value-based care paradigm, primary care groups, health systems, and hospitals may choose to partner with allied healthcare organizations or outsource their behavioral health integration program. Value-based approaches can function better when primary care and behavioral health are integrated. 

The most effective care management methods, instruments, and strategies are used in BHI programs.

How HealthArc’s BHI Systems Can Help?

 

Healthcare organizations can enhance the quality and accessibility of behavioral healthcare by implementing innovative care models, accountable care, and behavioral health integration. Our system is formulated to:

• Simplify the process of developing patient care plans

• Facilitate employee workflows with direct evaluations

• Encourage patients by making clinical recommendations

• Examine patient risk factors to provide clinical advice

Our user-friendly software and digital monitoring platform can assist clinicians in delivering better patient outcomes with higher patient engagement and streamlining the BHI procedure.