Behavioral Health Outpatient Capacity Report

Challenges linked to both supply and coordination issues

Since 2008, the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership has worked with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Division to advance research as a foundation for the community’s journey towards an accessible, effective, recovery-oriented and patient-centered system of care for individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs. Supported by a broad array of funders and community stakeholders, the Partnership commissioned the Milwaukee County Outpatient Capacity Assessment, recently issued jointly by the Human Services Research Institute, the Technical Assistance Collaborative and the Public Policy Forum.

The new report explores the variety of clinical behavioral health services and programs that are provided outside of inpatient settings, and are are deemed essential for a comprehensive system of care, especially for low-income populations.  It outlines a series of recommendations to address both system fragmentation and provider shortages, as well as issues related to technology, reimbursement strategies and integrated care in patient-centered medical homes. To view the report’s summary presentation, click here.

Previous research commissioned by the Partnership and facilitated by the Public Policy Forum include a comprehensive mental health redesign report released in 2010, and an adult inpatient bed capacity analysis released in 2014.