Primary care pilot program seeks to remove behavioral health stigma, treat more patients

PROVIDENCE – For some Rhode Islanders living with depression, anxiety or substance-use disorder, getting behavioral health support may seem impossible. The Care Transformation Collaborative of Rhode Island is working with primary care practices throughout the state to help eliminate patient barriers to behavioral health care by identifying and treating patients who may never have received help elsewhere.

CTC’s new pilot program supports integrating behavioral health services into the primary care setting. The effort recognizes and builds on the trusted relationships patients have with their primary care teams, and introduces behavioral health treatment into the primary care setting.
Participating practices have begun universal screenings for mental health and substance-use disorders for all of their patients. Those with moderate depression, anxiety, substance-use disorder or co-occurring chronic conditions are connected to a behavioral health provider within their primary care practice. Patients receive treatment and, as needed, connected with an appropriate long-term treatment team.

The first pilot cohort, launched in January 2016, includes six primary care practices: Associates in Primary Care Medicine, East Bay Community Action Program (Newport and East Providence), Providence Community Health Center – Chafee, Tri-Town Community Action Agency and the Women’s Medicine Collaborative. CTC will launch a second cohort in November 2016 with these practices: Affinity – Family Medicine at Women’s Care, Coastal Medical – Hillside Family Medicine, Family Care Center – Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, Providence Community Health Center (Capitol Hill and Prairie Avenue), University Medicine – Governor Street and Wood River Health Services.

“Patients living with unidentified behavioral health conditions experience safety risks, avoidable and costly emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and a negative impact on their quality of life,” said Debra Hurwitz, CTC’s co-director. “Through our efforts, we hope to increase access to screening and … identification of individuals who suffer from untreated behavioral health conditions.”

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Pilot practices participate in quarterly learning sessions and monthly on-site integrated behavioral health consultation services. In addition, CTC provides incentive payments to practices based on improved screening and patient outcomes. The Rhode Island Foundation’s Fund for a Healthy Rhode Island and Tufts Health Plan provided pilot program funding.

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