Integration of Physical-Behavioral Health Care Sample Clauses

Integration of Physical-Behavioral Health Care. Medicaid has a large number of members with co-existing physical and mental health/substance abuse co-morbidities. Optimal care requires integration of services and providers so that care is coordinated and appropriate for the well-being of the entire person, not just for a single condition. There are many barriers between behavioral and physical health care including different providers, varying locations, multiple agencies, confidentiality rules and regulations, historic lack of communication between providers, and more. This initiative will require training programs to find ways to integrate care for their patients with behavioral health conditions within the medical home. The project work plan must include details on: A strategy for integration which includes a means of improving referrals to behavioral health providers, enhanced communication with mental health/substance abuse providers, processes for obtaining appropriate consents for sharing personal health information, and procedures for coordinated case management (particularly for cases in which patients may have more than one provider). Developing a linkage to the Office of Mental Health Psychiatric Services and Clinical Knowledge Enhancement System (PSYKES) project, which provides data and recommendations for potential problems of polypharmacy and metabolic syndrome exacerbation for Medicaid members using Medicaid databases within the first year of the program start date. The linkage will require creating systems to receive, and act on, reports generated by PSYKES. The linkage must be completed by the end of Year 1. Developing training for primary care clinicians in behavioral health care with particular focus on integrating depression screening and pain management with appropriate treatment modalities and referral. Assessing demand and capacity to provide co-located services or other approaches to decrease wait times and improve access to behavioral health services.