Collaborative Team Approach Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care

Collaborative care programs are one approach to integration in which primary care providers, care managers, and psychiatric consultants work together to provide care and monitor patients’ progress. These programs have been shown to be both clinically-effective and cost-effective for a variety of mental health conditions, in a variety of settings, using several different payment mechanisms. This br

The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) uses a team-based, interdisciplinary approach to deliver evidence-based diagnoses, treatment, and follow-up care to an identified patient population.  It is being embraced and adopted in several health-care systems and payors across the state. Not only does it provide evidence-based care of mental illness and substance use disorders, it is documented to improve 

CoCM has been shown to lead to better patient outcomes, better patient and provider satisfaction, improved functioning, and reductions in healthcare costs. In a world where 50% of patients who receive referrals for specialty mental health care never follow through, improved treatment in a primary care practice under the care of the CoCM team is a big win.