Increasing Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Settings

Improving access to mental health resources and services for Medicaid populations in Wisconsin

Full Project Name:Increasing Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Settings Through Team TrainingPrimary Community Organization:Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare QualityPrimary Academic Partner:Katinka Hooyer, PhD, Family MedicineAward Amount:$367,650

Award Date

July2021

Project Duration:36 months

Project Summary:

Mental health disorders impact individuals of all socioeconomic status. However, Medicaid recipients, who are disproportionately people of color, experience increased disparities and lack of access to mental health care. According to the Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality's 2019 Health Disparities Report, the depression screening rate for Medicaid recipients was 15% lower than Medicare patients. Implementing a model of care called integrated behavioral health (IBH) into primary care clinics has been shown to expand access to mental health services and improve health outcomes for those receiving Medicaid.

Through this award, project partners aim to launch a multi-sector partnership to implement IBH within Wisconsin's health system to improve mental health outcomes.

Community partners: Bellin Health, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Primary Care Associates of Appleton, UnityPoint Health-Meriter, Fort HealthCare, ProHealth Care, Ascension, Beloit Health System, Collaborative Family Healthcare Association

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Recruited nine statewide health systems, including a wide diversity in participating health systems and rural systems, to understand their needs in integrated behavioral health (IBH) service provision and expansion
Developed a 12-session training series with technical assistance to address needs related to IBH services
Developed a 10-part mini documentary series to highlight the experiences of people who have received behavioral health treatment to inform the future of IBH services and further train health system staff
Compared to health systems that did not take part in the project, the participating systems showed significantly better performance rates in each measure impacting the health outcomes of patients
Disseminated project efforts through multiple local opportunities and a publication and leveraged $350,000 to support continued project efforts