Behavioral health integration refers to the knitting together of mental health and substance use disorder care with physical health care to treat the whole person. In California, people insured through Medi-Cal must navigate three separate systems of care — one for physical conditions, such as diabetes; one for serious mental health issues, such as schizophrenia; and one for substance use disorders, such as alcoholism.

The California Department of Health Care Services’ Medi-Cal Healthier California for All (later retitled CalAIM) draft plan includes several proposals to advance behavioral health integration within the state’s Medi-Cal program at the administrative and payment levels. One of these is for the establishment of “full integration pilots” which would test the effectiveness of the integration of physical health, behavioral health, and oral health under one contracted entity.

Join CHCF to learn more about the importance of integration at the health care systems level. The briefing will provide:

• An overview of how other states are advancing behavioral health integration in their Medicaid programs; lessons learned in these states can inform California’s approach
• A brief review of integration efforts already happening in California
• A look at two counties’ steps toward integration of behavioral and physical health care

Speakers include:

• Alice Washington, Associate, California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions
• Catherine Teare, MPP, Associate Director for High-Value Care, CHCF
• Allison Hamblin, MSPH, President and CEO, Center for Health Care Strategies
• Andy Gruchy, LCSW, Deputy Director of Community Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health
• Takashi Wada, MD, MPH, Vice President of Population Health, Inland Empire Health Plan
• Margaret Kisliuk, JD, MPP, Behavioral Health Administrator, Partnership HealthPlan of California
• Louise Rogers, MPA, Chief, San Mateo County Health
• Scott Gilman, MSA, CBHE, Director of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, San Mateo County Health

For more information, please contact Lisa Aliferis, senior communications officer, CHCF.