The US government released a brief for collaborating mental health care in Medicaid Health Homes, and much of the information can be extended to in-home health care. As in-home health care rates raise, the importance of understanding and implementing collaborative care increases. The government brief, released in 2013, revealed the importance of increasing mental health care in all settings, where mental health is received most, and how to implement mental health in a number of different settings.

Common Mental Disorders Remain Untreated
The government study found that, even though mental disorders are common, only 25 percent of patients with disorders receive effective care. A slim 20 percent of adult patients with disorders are treated by a mental health specialist, and this is often in an office setting. This leads to higher health care costs over time, both from untreated illnesses and from office visits for the small percentage of those being treated. The study also confirmed that access to specialty mental health providers is limited, and mortality rates are higher among these individuals.

Collaborative Care
The need for collaborative care is the underlying answer to better physical and mental health care for these individuals. Collaborative care is an evidence-based approach to help mental and physical needs meet in any setting, including in-home health care. Collaborative care, in any setting, includes:

Care coordination and management
Regular and proactive treatment and monitoring using clinical rating scales
Regular and systematic psychiatric reviews and reviews for patients not showing improvement
Over 70 randomized control trials have proved the effectiveness of collaborative care for many mental disorders, both in results and in cost-effective care. The studies are diverse across specialties and patient populations, working among most groups. Traditional fee-for-service reimbursement programs are the highest collaborative care barriers, while new models, including capitated, case-rate payments, and pay-for-performance options could expand collaborative care use.

The government found that collaborative care in any setting increases healing and lowers health care costs. In-home mental health care must be done in collaboration with other types of care to gain the most success.

Call Vancouver Home Health Care Agency to talk more about collaborative care, how we help medical professionals collaborate a patient’s healing, and how we organize all parties with open communication. At Vancouver Home Health Care Agency, Caring and Compassion is our business.

Please read the complete study here: The Collaborative Care Model: An Approach for Integrating Physical and Mental Health Care in Medicaid Health Homes