Integration of behavioral and physical health care for a medicaid population through a public-public partnership

Psychiatr Serv. 2003 Nov;54(11):1508-12. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.54.11.1508.

Abstract

This article documents a unique organizational, legal, and financial partnership between a state, a university, a Medicaid managed health care plan, and a county to provide integrated mental health, substance abuse, and primary and specialty health care services to Medicaid, low-income, and indigent consumers in Washtenaw county, Michigan. Major regulatory, financial, and clinical changes were required within and among the various partners in the Washtenaw County Integrated Health Care Project. A new entity--the Washtenaw Community Health Organization--was created to implement the project. By sharing resources as well as financial risks, the state, the county, and the university have been able to provide ongoing integrated care to a vulnerable population of patients. Although resource intensive in conceptualization and implementation, the project can be viewed as a model for other states that face growing needy populations and decreasing Medicaid budgets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / economics
  • Academic Medical Centers / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Academic Medical Centers / organization & administration
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Comorbidity
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / economics
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Local Government
  • Managed Care Programs / economics
  • Managed Care Programs / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Managed Care Programs / organization & administration*
  • Medicaid / economics
  • Medicaid / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Mental Disorders / economics
  • Mental Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Michigan
  • Patient Care Team / economics
  • Patient Care Team / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Patient Care Team / organization & administration
  • Primary Health Care / economics
  • Primary Health Care / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Public Sector / economics
  • Public Sector / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Public Sector / organization & administration*
  • State Health Plans / economics
  • State Health Plans / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Substance-Related Disorders / economics
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation*
  • Uncompensated Care / economics
  • Uncompensated Care / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • United States