Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration and Care Utilization: Implications for Patient Outcome and Healthcare Resource Use

Background Behavioral health (BH) integration in primary care (PC) can potentially improve outcomes and reduce cost of care. While different models of integration exist, evidence from real-world examples is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of integration. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of six PC practice sites located in Western New York that implemented a primary care behavioral health (PCBH) integration model. Objective To assess the impact of PCBH on all-cause healthcare utilization rates. Design A retrospective observational study based on historical multi-payer health insurance claims data. Claims data were aggregated on a per-member-per-month basis to compare utilization rates among the patients in the PC practice sites that had implemented PCBH to those in the sites that had not yet done so. Participants The sample included 6768 unique adult health plan members between October 2015 and June 2017 with at least one BH diagnosis code who were attributed to one of the six newly integrated PC practice sites. Interventions Under the PCBH integration model, BH specialists were embedded in PC practice sites to treat a wide range of BH conditions. Main Measures Rates of all-cause ED visits and hospital admissions, along with rates of PC provider and BH provider visits. Key Results PCBH implementation was associated with reductions in the rates of outpatient ED visits (14.2%; p < 0.001) and PC provider visits (12.0%; p < 0.001), as well as with an increased rate of BH provider visits (7.5%; p = 0.018). Conclusions PCBH integration appears to alter the treatment patterns among patients with BH conditions by shifting patient visits away from ED and PC providers toward BH providers who specialize in treatment of such patients.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the outcomes of implementing a primary care behavioral health (PCBH) integration model in six primary care practice sites in Western New York. The results showed that PCBH implementation was associated with reductions in outpatient emergency department visits and primary care provider visits, as well as an increased rate of behavioral health provider visits.