Mental health in ACOs: missed opportunities and low-hanging fruit

• Published in: The American journal of managed care Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. 180 - 184
• Main Authors: O'Donnell, Allison N, Williams, Brent C, Eisenberg, Daniel, Kilbourne, Amy M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-03-2013
• Subjects: Accountable Care Organizations - economics; Accountable Care Organizations - legislation & jurisprudence; Accountable Care Organizations - organization & administration; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - economics; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - legislation & jurisprudence; Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration; Humans; Mental Health Services - economics; Mental Health Services - legislation & jurisprudence; Mental Health Services - organization & administration; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - legislation & jurisprudence; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - organization & administration; Patient-Centered Care - economics; Patient-Centered Care - legislation & jurisprudence; Patient-Centered Care - organization & administration; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1088-0224; 1936-2692

Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) have potential to improve care for chronic conditions through incentives for better performance and bundled payments that promote care coordination. The Chronic Care Model (CCM) is a framework for providing health services for chronic conditions in primary care settings consistent with the organizational and financial goals of ACOs. Integrated mental health care – collaborative care by mental health and primary care providers for selected patients – improves care and is consistent with the Chronic Care Model. However, under the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs currently do not specify financial or organizational incentives for providing integrated mental health care through the CCM, leaving a missed opportunity to realize the full potential of ACOs to improve patient outcomes. We describe the rationale for incorporating mental health care into ACOs; how it can benefit consumers, providers, and ACOs; and what health care organizations can do to implement integrated mental health care.