SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Today, the House Human Services Policy Committee discussed legislation to require health plans that provide coverage for alcoholism, mental health, or chemical dependence benefits to provide collaborative care, and bill for it using the standard health care billing codes. According to the American Psychiatric Association, mental health conditions impact one in five adults in the United States.
Representative Robert Bierman (DFL-Apple Valley), who serves on the Health Finance Committee, was glad to see the initiative move forward.
“Mental health care IS health care, plain and simple,” said Rep. Bierman. “When quality, affordable care is more accessible, we can improve outcomes for people who need it, in a way that is timely, effective, and less stigmatizing.”
The collaborative care model offers one approach to mental health integration in which primary care providers, care managers (often social workers), and psychiatric consultants work together to provide care and monitor patients’ progress. Programs using this model have achieved improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs for a variety of mental health conditions, in a variety of settings using several different payment mechanisms. Collaborative care is used in over 20 states.
HF 1771 has advanced to the House Health Finance Committee and is supported by the American Psychiatric Association. To learn more information, you can visit the Association’s website here.
-30-