The next frontier in health care reform is controlling costs, and Global Payment Reform appears to be on the agenda in Massachusetts. At yesterday's Association Meeting in Worcester we hosted a panel on "Global Payment Reform: How Will It Impact Behavioral Health Providers in Massachusetts?"
Sarah Iselin, CEO of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, and Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Executive Director of Healthcare for All, outlined their respective visions for the near term future of payment reform. They did a great job, particularly in the lively Q&A section of the forum. Many members expressed reservations about the prospects for behavioral health under potential reforms.
ABH has outlined four core points as the GPR debate progresses:
1. Behavioral healthcare is a core service and any changes must include systems that allow for better integration of primary and behavioral healthcare.
2. Cost of care considerations must take account of the prevalence of co-morbid medical illness in individuals with substance use disorders and mental illness.
3. Accountable Care Organizations must protect the interests of the most vulnerable populations, including adults and children with behavioral health disorders. Inclusion of community-based behavioral healthcare providers is essential in healthcare system redesign.
4. The transition to a new payment system must be carefully implemented and adequately funded.
Stay tuned for more on this debate in the coming months.
On the Issues, People & Organizations in Behavioral Health in the Commonwealth
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