Promote behavioral health integration and improve coordination between medical and behavioral health care sectors to improve patient outcomes.
The integration of behavioral health and primary care has the potential to greatly improve the health of the general population and reduce per capita healthcare costs. SAMHSA proposes an integration framework with six levels of integration. The ideal form of integration is where primary care and behavioral health providers are employed by the same organization, located in the same place, with high levels of collaboration and integration. They function as a true team with frequent communication and they view themselves as a single health care system that treats the whole person. The Mat-Su Health Foundation supports integration through the following efforts:
- Support for behavioral health integration in Mat-Su through policy and regulatory change at the state and local levels
- Grants to Sunshine Community Health Center
- Mat-Su Health Services to develop medical and behavioral health medical records that promote integration.