Systems Improvement

Connecting Behavioral Health & Primary Care

Advancing Integrated Care in Central Oregon

Creach Consulting Group was selected to lead the Advancing Integrated Care in Central Oregon project funded by the Central Oregon Health Council.

This Regional Health Improvement Plan (RHIP) project seeks to address an underlying root cause impacting timely access to behavioral health care by testing innovative strategies with health plans and providers. In addition, the project focuses on improving care coordination and transitions of care between primary care and specialty behavioral health providers.

Guided by a diverse advisory committee, this project represents a significant community investment of nearly $860,000. The project timeframe is November 2021 - December 2024.

Project Objectives

Objective 1

Develop metrics and a method to measure timeliness and engagement when patients are referred from primary care to specialty behavioral health. Once in place, reliable data across all payers/populations in Central Oregon will allow for future targeted interventions to improve access to behavioral health care.

Objective 2

Work with regional health plans to include metrics in value-based payment (VBP) contracts to help ensure timely access to and engagement with behavioral health care is incentivized & financially sustainable for primary care & behavioral health providers.

Objective 3

Conduct a 6-part training series focused on the intersection of primary care and specialty behavioral health, including streamlined referrals, care coordination, and making sure patients get the right level of care.