BCBS of Michigan, Trinity Health integrate behavioral health, primary care: What worked?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is collaborating with Linovia, Mich.-based Trinity Health on integrating behavioral health into patients' primary care — a relationship that's closely aligning the organizations and providing holistic care to patients, according to a Feb. 2 American Medical Association report. 

The report highlighted how both payers and providers have visions of how behavioral health integration programs should be structured, but partnerships are often the ticket to cost savings and better patient outcomes. 

"Both physician organizations and payers have ideas about integrating behavioral health. We found common interest and common ground," Kristyn Spangler, associate director of behavioral health program manager at Trinity Health affiliate Integrated Health Associates, said during an AMA webinar. "As we did the work, we saw the impact on patients as well as providers. And sharing our successes and challenges with Blue Cross provided value and opened opportunities."

In the relationship, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan served as a guide for program expectations — including providing insight on what other providers are doing — and fielded reimbursement questions. 

The payer also offered financial support through incentives for physicians who participated in the program. Blue Cross Blue Shield expects to have trained 1,400 physicians on using behavioral health integration to achieve whole person health.

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