What Matters for Health Centers

Health centers are increasingly expanding beyond primary and preventive care to provide their patients with a broad range of services to address mental health, substance use disorder, and other behavioral health issues.  Since 2010, health center patient visits for behavioral health services, including mental health and substance use disorder services have more than doubled (growing by 111%), outpacing the growth of medical visits and total visits overall. Health centers are also working to more fully integrate primary and behavioral health services to ensure coordinated care and seamless transitions for their patients, including those who are grappling with opioid use disorder.

Helpful Resources

NACHC Policy Paper: Policy Landscape for Community Health Center Integration of Behavioral Health & SUD/OUD Services
Policy Snapshot: Landscape for Community Health Center Integration of Behavioral Health & SUD/OUD Services
Issue Brief: Rising to the Challenge: Community Health Centers are Making Substance Use Disorder Treatment More Accessible than Ever
Fact Sheet: Behavioral Health in Primary Care
Podcast: Treating the Root Causes of Addiction in Primary Care, featuring Jane Powers of Fenway Health in Boston.
NACHC State Policy Report: Integrated Care in Kansas
NACHC State Policy Report: Integrated Care in Alaska
NACHC State Policy Report: Integrated Care in Tennessee
NACHC State Policy Report: Health Center Reimbursement for Behavioral Services in Medicaid
NACHC Comments: Final Rule for Medication Assisted Treatment