Something Republicans and Democrats Can Agree On: Support for Integrated Behavioral Health COMMENT

Barriers to the spread of integrated behavioral health and primary care continue to limit progress on meeting critical needs for mental health and substance use disorder services. The recent Bipartisan Policy Center Report (2021) provides key policy recommendations to address these barriers and accelerate the adoption of integrated behavioral health in Medicaid and Medicare. Having bipartisan support presents a policy window of opportunity to advance integrated behavioral health through advocacy for implementation of these recommendations, parallel changes to occur in employer-based and other commercial insurance plans, and development of operationalized standards for core service delivery elements.

Automated summary

Breaking down barriers to the dissemination of integrated behavioral health and primary care, and accelerating the promotion of integrated behavioral health in Medicaid and Medicare, are essential. The recent Bipartisan Policy Center Report offers key policy recommendations and presents a policy window of opportunity.