Promoting the Integration of Primary and Behavioral Health Care - The purpose of the Massachusetts Primary Care and Behavioral Health Integration Pilot project is to increase behavioral health screening, access to mental health care, and to improve the quality of care for undeserved individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders who are living with or at high risk for co-morbid health conditions. To do this, MDPH, BSAS will partner with three community health centers to pilot the development, implementation and evaluation of fully integrated behavioral health care services into existing community-based primary care settings. The project will incorporate a number of evidence-based practices including but not limited to Integrated Models for Behavioral Health and Primary Care, Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), medications for addiction treatment and peer support. The overall goal of the project is to promote full integration of behavioral health care services in community-based primary care settings. We will serve a total of 4,550 individuals over the project period. Additional goals include: 1) formalizing partnerships with selected community, health center partners, 2) facilitating the development of integration implementation plan and 3) facilitate state level coordination and sustainability planning. The project team is experienced, diverse and inter-disciplinary; all have training and experience working on projects related to the integration of substance use into healthcare settings. Evaluation: Required client level data will be collected at baseline, six months and discharge and along with required project level and data will be used to determine if program goals, objectives, and outcomes are achieved and if adjustments are required. Additional data collection tools will include state-level data collection tools capturing client’s socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, current and past substance use at enrollment, and other relevant characteristics. This coupled with additional information collected at disenrollment including reasons for discharge, referrals made, and various proxies for estimating treatment outcomes will enhance our ability to evaluate and sustain the program once the grant ends.
