National Organizations

• The Altarum Institute, specializing in behavioral health policy analysis, research, and technical assistance, convened a policy roundtable of experts in the field of collaborative carein July, 2010, to discuss “Integrating Behavioral Health Services: A Community Health Center Paradigm”. A summary of their discussion and their Powerpoint presentations are included here.
• American Academy of Family Physicians, provides access to continuing medical education, evidence-based medicine through it journal, practice management and advocacy. A position paper it published in 2004, “Mental Health Services by Family Physicians”, explores the role of the primary care physician in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
• American Psychiatric Association
• American Psychological Association, a scientific and professional organization of 148,000 members, represents psychology in the United States. In 2006, its government relations staff promulgated a guide to Health and Behavior CPT Codes found in the Billing Code Advice for Psychologists section of this website. An APA task force report issued in February, 2008 endorses the development of a model of integrated health care as essential as the U.S. population ages. Their “Blueprint for Change: Achieving Integrated Health Care for an Aging Population” outlines the challenges and benefits of building interdisciplinary teams to address the specific health care needs of older people.
• Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, a leading advocacy organization for persons with mental disorders, published “Get It Together: How to Integrate Physical and Mental Health Care for People with Serious Mental Disorders” which examines model programs for improving coordination between primary care and mental health services. While the publication must be purchased, an executive summary can be obtained here.
• Behavioral Health Connect, a fee-based private consultation organization formed by professionals from University of Massachusetts, makes behavioral health consultation available through on-demand video conferencing technology.  Geared to primary care private practice rather than FQHC’s, the group offers “turn-key behavioral health solutions for primary care practices seeking to operate as Patient Centered Medical Homes”.
• The Carter Center has been a thought leader in advancing collaborative care.  In 2009, the Center’s Mental Health Program convened the Medical Home Summit, which brought together 40 leaders from the fields of primary care, behavioral care, and health promotion/disease prevention. The goal was to examine whether the patient-centered medical home could serve as the platform for integrating behavioral health care and health promotion/disease prevention.
• The Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc. (CHCS) is a nonprofit health policy resource center working with state-led collaboratives to design and test new care management interventions for their highest-need, highest-cost beneficiaries. A part of their integrative care collaboratives, this program, called “Rethinking Care”, promotes strategies to better care for the top 5-20 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries. “State pilot projects are designed to: 1) identify patients who are most likely to benefit from enhanced care management; 2) develop tailored care management interventions; and 3) rigorously measure quality and cost outcomes.” Their on-line Tool Kit for “Integrating Physical and Behavioral Health Care in Medicaid”includes policy-related materials and templates, as well as resources from states to help guide state efforts in implementing integrated approaches. See their “Integrating Care for People with Complex and Special Needs” for a list of technical assistance and pilot demonstration summaries. CHCS is also providing technical assistance for federal Dual Eligible Integrated Care Demonstrations in California and fourteen other states.
• The federally-funded Center for Integrated Health Solutions, run by the National Council for Community Behavioral Health (see below), promotes the development of integrated primary and behavioral health services by providing training and technical assistance to 64 community behavioral health organizations throughout the countrythat have been awarded integrated care grants, as well as to community health centers and other primary care and behavioral health organizations. Among their many free educational opportunities, they offer on-demand webinars on various aspects of integrated care and esolutions newsletters, delivering news and perspectives on care integration. State Options for Integrated Physical and Behavioral Care, a technical assistance brief issued by the Center in 2011, offers strategies for states to improve the coordination of physical and behavioral health services for high-need, high-cost Medicaid populations.
• The Coalition for Whole Health, a coalition of national organizations advocating for improved coverage for and access to mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery services, recommends full inclusion of mental health and substance use disorder services within the framework of essential benefits covered by the Affordable Care Act.
• Collaborative FamilyHealthcare Association (CFHA) is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to integrating health and mental health services. It seeks to strengthen this approach by creating a knowledge base of collaborative family healthcare, by advocating for it locally and nationally, and by developing partnerships linking education, research and service delivery in this area. Its national annual conferences provide training tracks covering the latest progress of federal, state and local efforts to establish successfully integrated programs and overcome policy and financing issues.
• The Health and Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies), formerly the Institute of Medicine, which serves as an adviser to policy makers and health care providers, has made the overarching recommendation that “health care for general medical and substance abuse problems and illnesses must be delivered with an understanding of the inherent interactions between the mind/brain and body”. In February 2009, the Institute convened a “Summit on Integrative Medicine and the Health of the Public.” An overview of the Summit underscores the importance of transforming the nation’s reactive “sick care system” to one more proactive, integrated and client-centered.
• The Integrated Care Resource Center (ICRC) was established to help states deliver coordinated care for Medicaid’s high-need, high-cost beneficiaries with the goal of improving the quality and reducing the costs of care. The resource center offers states technical assistance to help them pursue integrated models for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and high-need, high-cost Medicaid recipients. Their assistance includes best-practice webinars and practical online resources.one-on-one targeted support for those implementing integrated models, and peer-learning collaboratives for those in the design or implementation stage. Their website contains descriptions of various states efforts to integrate care for dual eligibles.  One of their technical assistance briefs, State Options for Integrating Physical and Behavioral Healthcare describes existing and emerging options being used or considered by states for integrating the management and financing of physical and behavioral health services, with a focus on individuals with serious behavioral health needs. The Center’s Health Care Innovation Challenge will award up to $1B in grants in 2012 to applicants to improve care and lower costs.
• Mental Health America (MHA), a leading national mental health advocacy organization, has developed a position paper promoting integrated care in recognition of the high rates of health problems and premature death among individuals with serious mental illnesses.
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is national grass roots organization with 1,000 local community chapters devoted to mental health support, advocacy and research. Collectively, they endorse integrated rather than parallel treatment programs for persons with co-occurring mental and addictive disorders and advocate for blending of mental health, alcohol and substance abuse funds. Their 2011 publication “Integrating Mental Health and Pediatric Primary Care” is designed for families as a roadmap to navigate the integrated care landscape.
• National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is the policy and advocacy organization representing more than 1,000 Federally Qualified Health Centers serving over seventeen million people annually. The non-profit organization provides information dissemination and advocacy on key issues, renders education and technical assistance, and builds partnerships for underserved communities.
• National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disability Directors(NACBHDD) is a national voice for people affected by mental illness, addiction, and developmental disabilities in Washington, DC, advocating for through education, policy analysis, and advocacy. Their 2011 position paper on integrated care states: “The importance of bringing behavioral and physical health care together-establishing systems of integrated care-cannot be overstated from either human or economic perspectives, particularly as health reform moves forward through the Affordable Care Act. Integrated care can help save lives and dollars.” Another position paper (2012) reaffirms the importance of peer support in the diagnosis, treatment and recovery from behavioral disorders.
• National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), a member organization representing state executives responsible for the public mental health service delivery system, published a number of papers directly relating to integrated behavioral care, among them: “Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care Services: Opportunities and Challenges for State Mental Health Authorities “, a discussion of the Four-Quadrant Model and its implications for a countywide or statewide system of care and “Morbidity and Mortality in People with Serious Mental Illness”.
• National Council for Community Behavioral Health (NCCBH) represents 1,300 organizations providing treatment and rehabilitation services to people with mental illness and addiction disorders. A leader in the integration movement, it has been collaborating with other national organizations to champion legislation that would advance care integration. Its newsletters summarize the latest innovations around the country and it has commissioned a series of papers that analyze all facets of barriers to integrated care. Several of its papers, including the widely accepted “Four Quadrant Model” by Barbara Mauer can be found on this website or on NCCHB’s. In March, 2009, NCCBH issued another paper by Ms. Mauer titled “Behavioral Health/Primary Care Integration and the Person-Centered Home.” NCCBH also runs the Center for Integrated Health Solutions described above.
• The School-Based Health Alliance is a nationwide initiative to embed interdisciplinary health care services directly into educational settings. With chapters in 21 states, SBHA advocates for resources and offers a variety of technical assistance and training resources to professionals, state associations and others regarding the creation, implementation,maintenance and sustainability of school-based health centers.
• Though the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has not delved into the integrated care arena as energetically as SAMHSA, the Institute has published material to assist primary care professionals in the detection and treatment of substance abuse. One quick reference they published, “Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings“, contains questions to ask and steps to initiate depending on risk level.
• StartYourRecovery.org is a free, confidential tool that helps individuals take steps toward a healthy relationship with drugs and alcohol. It was developed with the input of leading clinicians, experts from leading organizations like SAMHSA, and people in recovery themselves. Here, individuals can hear stories from people with similar life experiences, discover the answers they need for recognizing and dealing with substance use issues, and locate support. Family and friends can learn about addiction and how to encourage treatment and support sober living on the website.
• National Mental Health Consumers’ Self-Help Clearinghouse
• National Empowerment Center
• National Stigma Clearinghouse
• SAMHSA’s What a Difference a Friend Makes Campaign