A case for integration of primary care and behavioral health:
Andy Keller, CEO of Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute in Dallas, said providers should implement the collaborative care model, in which primary care clinicians, care managers, and psychiatric consultants work together to care for patients with behavioral health conditions and track their progress. The model has been shown to be effective at treating depression, anxiety and other disorders, and has proven to save costs. Most insurers now reimburse for collaborative care, but health systems haven’t caught up, he said.