State Strategies to Integrate Primary Care, Behavioral Health and Social Services for Vulnerable Populations

As state policymakers, health system leaders, and clinicians aim to improve outcomes and lower costs for low-income populations, there is growing acceptance of the need to integrate medical care, behavioral health, and social services. States often struggle, however, with developing effective payment and delivery reform strategies across Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and other programs. Building on previous Fund-supported work, this project will provide technical assistance to six states to develop and test strategies for integrating physical health, behavioral health, and social service needs of low-income, vulnerable patient populations. Project staff will work with states on a range of issues, including new payment models to support care integration, regulatory approaches to promote cross-system collaboration, methods to engage providers across a community, and metrics to assess progress.