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Author Archive

Integrated Care Models in Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organizations

The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) represents specialty behavioral health and wellness companies that provide services to treat mental health, substance use, and other behaviors that impact health. ABHW members have long histories with integrating behavioral health care and a...

Zero Suicide: Working Together to Save Lives

The death of Robin Williams in 2014 was an event that stunned the nation. He was a beloved man who brought laughter to so many people’s lives. His suicide stirred emotions in people as they pondered a myriad of questions. How could someone who had such a full life want to kill himself?” ...

A New Approach to Service Integration and Variation on a Proven Theme

Policy developments within federal, state and local governments are compelling providers to pursue the “Triple Aim” of healthcare reform and to continually reevaluate their systems and services to this end. Notwithstanding the complexities of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Delivery System...

Insurance Models to Achieve the Triple Aim

Most people think that the reason for bringing behavioral health services under managed care—a “carve-in”—is to save money. They’re partially right. Carving in services has resulted in savings for the Medicaid program and for States in many instances. In a carve-in, behavioral health...

A New Model for Integration of Care: The Ambulatory ICU

Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH) are built upon access, communication, continuity and ongoing performance improvement. Health Homes have been most successful in engaging marginalized difficult patients with little primary care utilization but falter when successful treatment requires care by...

Changing Physician Roles and Relationships in Integrated Care

Unacceptably high mortality and morbidity among people with serious mental illness have prompted a call to action for behavioral health providers from all disciplines. Included among these providers are physicians and other prescribers, who have an important part to play in the integration...

Governor Announces New Text Messaging Feature on NYS HOPEline

New Yorkers can now text State HOPEline for support and referral to services for alcohol and drug addiction, and problem gambling. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that New Yorkers can now contact the New York State HOPEline addiction referral and support service by texting 1-877-8-HOPENY....

Building the Amazon Prime Experience in Health Care

Mike Hogan, former Mental Health Commissioner of New York, predicts that in 45 years, distinct public mental health systems with state-operated and state-funded specialty services will no longer exist in their current form. He says, “Almost all the new service models unleashed by the Affordable...

Care Management Model for Integrated Settings

The Care Management model in an integrated health care setting is rapidly evolving and expanding. Although there have been many improvements in coordination of health care, barriers persist for patients and medical providers which diminish the quality of care being delivered. Primary health care...

Building an Integrated Healthcare System: Blending Public Health and Prevention Models

The very first time I ever thought about physical and behavioral healthcare together was when I heard of a psychiatrist who wanted to do complete blood chemistry before prescribing medication to new patients within a mental health clinic, a unique situation some 20 years ago. Clearly, this...