Abstract:
In this Program track 2 proposal, the state of Arkansas will partner with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (15 clinics) and two federally qualified health centers (FQHC – 21 clinics) and the Arkansas Behavioral Health Integration Network (ABHIN). This partnership, named the Behavioral Health Integration Hub (BHI-Hub) will implement the behavioral health collaborative care model (CoCM) among rural residents with chronic medical and co-occurring behavioral health conditions. It will also help family and internal medicine and psychiatry residents learn how to work in an integrated behavioral health model. The geographic catchment area is the entire State of Arkansas. The BHI-Hub provides funding for personnel and a patient registry to track progress of patients and to facilitate the use of measurement based care. It will provide training to new and existing personnel about integrated behavioral health care as well as create enduring resources that can be use by other clinics when they implement integrated care. The project includes a state planning council will be a state-wide entity involving key stakeholders. The state planning council will be co-chaired by state leadership and facilitated by Dr. Hudson and Smith. It will meet no less than quarterly to accomplish its work.
Goal Implement integrated behavioral health into 145 UAMS primary care and at 21 FQHC clinic locations for patients suffering from multiple chronic physical and behavioral health conditions.
Objective 1: Conduct a Program Readiness review
This review will identify barriers and current or potential facilitators to providing integrated care in UAMS and FQHC primary care clinics.
Objective 2: Develop a detailed, integration program plan.
A program planning team will develop a detailed plan (BHI-Hub Manual) describing procedures for identifying and meeting behavioral health needs for patients identified in objective 1. .
Objective 3: Develop formal collaborative agreements between the State of Arkansas and all clinical partners.
Objective 4: Sustainability plan: create a sustainability plan to continue integrated behavioral health care after the end of federal funding. This will include identifying barriers to sustainability and strategies to address each barrier.
Objective 5: Create a State planning Council for Integrated Care. This council will utilize the materials developed during this project to increase the number of primary care clinics providing integrated behavioral healthcare.
Objective 6: When clinically appropriate, implement additional screenings and referrals. This includes conditions such as HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, viral hepatitis, tobacco/nicotine use, opioid and alcohol use disorders, oral health resources and support for provision of care via telehealth.