CQC Launches Behavioral Health Integration Program Focused on Pediatrics
This past month, CQC launched the Behavioral Health Integration – Children and Youth Collaborative Learning Exchange, a nine-month program uniting organizations across California to integrate behavioral health into primary care for children and youth. The collaborative will work to improve care delivery, share best practices and develop innovative solutions to address real-world challenges in pediatric behavioral health.
Welcome Participating Organizations:
- Alliance Medical Center
- Altamed Health Services
- Children’s Hospital of Orange County
- LifeLong Medical Care
- Providence Medical Group (Northern California)
- San Francisco Health Network
- Chinese Hospital (learning participant)
With these partners, the collaborative aims to increase access to mental health care for children and youth statewide.
Sustainable Behavioral Health Integration Financing: Successful Practices and Opportunities
The latest issue brief from CQC explores sustainable payment practices for integrating behavioral health into primary care. Based on insights from California providers and health plans, the brief highlights:
- Payment delays hinder service access and sustainability.
- Health plans' role in simplifying behavioral health integration payment and credentialing is vital for effective integration.
The issue brief provides actionable recommendations for health plans, providers and regulators to support sustainable financing for behavioral health integration.
Chinese Hospital Honored With Community Impact Award at the Civitas Networks for Health Community Excellence Awards
Pictured: The Chinese Hospital team at the CQC CalHIVE Behavioral Health Integration Convening
Chinese Hospital has been recognized for its exceptional commitment to community health through its culturally competent expansion of mental and behavioral health services. Through programs like CQC's CalHIVE Behavioral Health Integration Improvement Collaborative and the California Bridge program, the hospital is addressing opioid use disorder and enhancing behavioral health care, increasing depression screening rates from 26.6% (December 2023) to 44.8% (March 2024) —resulting in an additional 1,500 patients receiving their annual screening.
By focusing on intentional hiring and multilingual patient surveys, Chinese Hospital fosters inclusivity and strengthens partnerships with UCSF Health and SFDPH, showcasing innovation and sustainability in reducing health disparities.
Congratulations, Chinese Hospital!
Leading Dialogues in Care Transformation
CQC has proudly led impactful discussions on health care quality improvement over the last several weeks. From advancing health equity-focused initiatives to strengthening primary care and providing behavioral health integration technical assistance, our experts shared key insights and best practices at major industry events, including the Civitas Networks for Health Annual Conference, the California Association of Health Plans Annual Conference and the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association Integrated Care Conference.
These engagements provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with peers and stakeholders dedicated to innovating and shaping the future of our health care delivery system.
Upcoming Events
- Dec. 4 | CQC/California Healthcare Association Cal-IN Peer Group for Behavioral Health Integration Professionals | Complete Interest Form
- Dec. 12 | Blue Shield of California Webinar | Bridging the Gap on Behavioral Health: Advancing Whole-Person Care Through Integration | Register to Attend
- Jan. 8 | CQC Behavioral Health Integration Implementation Webinar Series: Spread and Sustain | Register to Attend
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The California Quality Collaborative (CQC) is a quality improvement program of the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH).
