Monday, April 28, 2025
4/28/2025
Integrating Behavioral Health into Primary Care through Telehealth Evidence-Based Telehealth Network - Early Impact at Points of Demand (EIPOD): Valley Health’s Telebehavioral Health Network Abstract The objectives of the EIPOD program focus on expanding Valley Health’s existing telehealth service delivery model to rural parts of the region and bringing telebehavioral health services to marginalized and disadvantaged youth and adults. The EIPOD program will achieve this goal through training staff and providers at distant and originating site clinics to implement the Primary Care Behavioral Health integrated care model using a telebehavioral health delivery mechanism. Expected or potential long-term changes include increased numbers of patients receiving behavioral health services, reduction in wait times for behavioral health services, decreased rates of behavioral health and substance use symptoms, decreased overdoses, reduction in risky substance use, prevention of suicide, reduction in tobacco and vaping use, and improved family functioning in families with at-risk youth. The six originating sites are in counties with significant mental health provider shortages and high prevalence rates of behavioral health disorders and disability. Over 50% of youth and adults seen at the six originating sites in 2023 reported current or previous behavioral health conditions. All six originating sites are designated for the Rural Health Clinics Program and are Health Provider Shortage Areas for Mental Health, Primary Care, and Dental Health. The two sites in Shenandoah County, Woodstock and Strasburg, are designated Medically Underserved Areas. One site, in Page County, Luray is designated as a Medically Underserved Population. The proposed model adds value through a focus on 1) true integration of behavioral health consults into primary care teams via virtual mechanisms and 2) use of a comprehensive, behavioral health consultation model with children and adolescents. To date, the majority of focus on the use of the PCBH model has involved its use with adult populations in primary care and other medical settings. The EIPOD program includes two pediatric sites, two family medicine sites, and one primary care site that serves youth and families as well as adults. Its data will be able to discern the effectiveness of the model with children and adolescents as well as identify key implementation elements specific to best serving this population within the telebehavioral health approach. The EIPOD program will work quickly to establish a sustainable revenue cycle through Virginia’s reimbursement system, and Valley Health has committed to sustaining all Behavioral Health Consultant positions as well as the Community Health Coordinator position upon conclusion of award or sooner.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).