Increasing Integrated Behavioral Health in Primary Care Settings

Project Description Narrative:

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