Sharing a playbook: Integrated care in community health centers in the United States

Objectives. We investigated basic measures used to assess collaboration between colocated providers and to gauge the extent to which health centers practice integrated care. Methods. We used the Assessment of Behavioral Health Services survey and the 2010 Uniform Data System to explore the elements of integrated care for behavioral health conditions. We used multivariable regression models to examine the correlates of integrated care. Results. More than 85% of health centers provided mental health services in 2010, and almost half offered substance use treatment. Health centers commonly reported shared access to information among behavioral health and medical providers and joint care planning. A higher degree of integrated care involving joint case conferences was less common. Health centers without electronic health records and those with lower percentages of total staff composed of behavioral health workers were less likely to provide integrated care. Conclusions. A 2-pronged strategy involving financial incentives and technical assistance to spread best practices might increase integrated care, particularly among health centers that are not maximizing the potential of electronic health records and health centers with low behavioral health staffing levels.