Behavioral Health
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 has commissioned three behavioral health studies, facilitated by the Public Policy Forum and conducted by the Human Services Research Institute.
The most recent Outpatient Capacity Study explores the variety of clinical behavioral health services and programs that are provided outside of inpatient settings, and 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.
Previous research commissioned by the Partnership include a comprehensive Adult Mental Health Redesign study released in 2010, and an adult Inpatient Bed Capacity Analysis released in 2014.
Currently, the Partnership convenes a Behavioral Health Provider Steering Committee, which is implementing a comprehensive Work Plan to:
- maintain and ensure adequate and effective inpatient and crisis capacity for adults and children
- enhance outpatient behavioral health capacity and capabilities
- maintain care coordination / navigation capabilities across and within the delivery system
- support community-based prevention and early intervention and recovery services
- improve Medicaid reimbursement and other public policy
Since 2008, Milwaukee’s health systems have contributed $1,840,000 in shared community investments to expand access to behavioral health services at community clinics and other partners.
