Did You Know – The Benefits of Integrating Mental Health Care and Primary Care
DSS, Inc. Calls for Closing the False Divide in Veteran Care
There is broad acknowledgement today that physical and mental issues are intertwined for millions of patients. According to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (part of NIH), primary care providers delivered 73 percent of mental healthcare to the U.S. population in 2010, vs. only 24 percent from psychiatrists. The study calls the lack of care integration a “false divide” that hurts millions of patients, especially already vulnerable populations.
Mental Illness Awareness Week is celebrated annually around October. In the spirit of ending the stigma of mental illness and advocating for treatment and recovery, DSS Inc. calls for closing this false divide for millions of Veterans in need.
The VA has been a leader when it comes to Primary Care Mental Health Integration (PCMHI). It is vital that the VA continues to provide this valuable service to our Veterans and that all VA medical centers have sufficient staffing to deliver PCMHI excellence.
The benefits of integrating mental health services into primary care settings in the VA are compelling. Did you know:
Up to 60 percent of individuals who visit primary care clinics have a diagnosable mental disorder.
Veterans who receive same-day PCMHI services had more than double the odds of receiving a subsequent mental healthcare encounter within 90 days.
Those who encounter mental health services in primary care are more than twice as likely to continue treatment or seek additional care services.
The co-location of primary care services within VA mental health clinics is associated with better quality of care for Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI).
The state of Arizona estimated healthcare savings of up to $14.4 million in its Medicaid managed care organization contracts over two years by integrating mental health into primary care.
The state of Colorado saved an estimated $178.6 million from 2016-2017 across public and private payers by integrating mental health into primary care.
Integration of care fosters overall patient wellness, improves coordination of care among medical practitioners and reduces costs for the VA.
The benefits speak for themselves. By being a leader in integrating mental health and primary care services, the VA not only meets the needs of Veterans but also serves as a model for primary care and mental health delivery in the United States.
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