How Programs With Integrated Behavioral Health Reduce Healthcare Costs

Over the years, the medical field has become increasingly technology-driven because of the countless upgrades and updates that have increased the quality of rendered care. In most American care centers, there are at least a handful of different devices that are considered as mainstays in a facility’s operations, which is a prevalent reality present in even the most remote care locations. Among all the different updates that have been released and heavily used in recent years, there’s one that has consistently redefined the way patients and caregivers know healthcare today: Integrated behavioral health.

The presence of integrated behavioral health in modern healthcare

Defined as a type of modern care that is driven by the concept of a mind-body connection, this typically manifests in practices that coordinate mental and physical clinical treatments. Through this treatment, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) states that administering physicians must be able to apply primary care and behavioral health clinicians' expertise. It further expounds on this by saying that, together with patients and families, health centers must use a systematic and cost-effective approach to providing patient-centered care. Although initiative reception was negative over fears of increased expenses, the truth about the treatment is that it can reduce costs incurred in a lifetime. Facilities that use Medistics Health’s programs, for instance, have reported reductions in health care spending by directly integrating behavioral health into their primary care models!

How this approach cuts down healthcare spending and increases service quality

When integrated behavioral health is applied to the care process, several benefits can be easily achieved while simultaneously reducing expenses. By integrating this patient-centered form of treatment alongside an efficient and effective program (such as our patient monitoring system), here are two benefits that can be gained: Reductions in overall healthcare costs From a general and financial standpoint, integrated behavioral health yields more savings because it applies treatment strategies that remedy specific problems for far less than conventional treatments. In the case of patients treated by a primary care clinician for depression, overall healthcare costs can drop by up to $3,300 per patient. On the other hand, diabetes patients with co-occurring depression treated for both conditions were able to lower their healthcare costs by $896 over two years, totaling up to 16 percent in annual cost savings. Continuous and effective treatments When it comes to reducing costs and achieving longer-lasting effects, integrated behavioral health is more effective because it helps ensure that patients attain continuous treatment and stay on track. According to a report conducted by the Primary Care Collaborative, 30 to 50 percent of patients referred to an outpatient behavioral health clinic do not attend their appointments. This shocking figure essentially leads to relapses, accumulated expenses, and longer recovery times. Through the use of Medistics Health’s programs with integrated behavioral health for consistent and thorough care, patients are able to lower their healthcare spending while getting well-rounded treatments at the same time!

Conclusion

When it comes to achieving better results, increasing effective recovery processes, and reducing healthcare spending, integrated behavioral health is a noteworthy alternative to consider. By opting for a treatment program that follows the same principle and addresses physical and mental health, you can cut your spending down by a significant amount in no time! When it comes to value-based programs and remote patient monitoring, there’s no need to worry because we’ve got you covered with our services. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!