Therapy Cafe - Healing Together: The Impact of Integrated Care on Mental Health Outcomes

More than one-third of adults in the U.S. report experiencing a mental health condition or substance use disorder, yet less than half receive the treatment they need due to provider shortages, high costs, and gaps in coverage. Many individuals with behavioral health needs initially seek help in emergency departments or primary care settings, often leaving without proper treatment. To address this gap, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model in 2023, focusing on innovative solutions in eight states. A key element of this initiative is the collaborative care model—a proven, evidence-based approach that integrates behavioral health into primary care to enhance access, outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Despite its strong track record, adoption remains limited due to reimbursement and scalability challenges.

In the last episode of this season of Therapy Cafe, join host and Psych Hub co-founder Marjorie Morrison, LMFT, LPCC, and Dr. Caroline Carney, President of Behavioral Health and Chief Medical Officer at Magellan Health, as they explore the principles of integrated care, delve into the collaborative care model, and examine how measurement-informed care can drive better outcomes. This episode is a must-listen for therapists and mental health professionals interested in how they can be a part of the solution to streamline care delivery, improve patient outcomes, and expand their impact within integrated health systems. 

Key Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the concept and benefits of integrated care

2. Explain the collaborative care model, including the key providers required

3. Examine the value of measurement-informed care

If you’d like to obtain continuing education as a psychologist, counselor, social worker, or therapist you can purchase a one-year subscription to Psych Hub’s training center. Once signed up, you’ll have access to earn CEs for this and every Therapy Cafe episode, plus access to our existing library of over 120 evidence-based practice continuing education courses created by expert clinicians. Go to psychhub.com/signup for more information. 

Connect with Dr. Carney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drccarney/ 

Learn more about the collaborative care work at Magellan: https://www.linkedin.com/company/magellan-health/ 

References: 

https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/resources/2022-access-to-care-survey-results/ 

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db426.htm 

https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/mcp/faqs