Here are a few highlights from some of the conferences we attended recently:

Barclays Innovation in Behavioral Health Conference

Christina Mainelli, Quartet Health CEO, had the opportunity to speak at Barclays Innovation in Behavioral Health conference in September. Alongside leaders from Eleanor Health and Cortica, the panel — moderated by the managing director for Barclays Healthcare Investment Banking — discussed a needed evolution in the industry from a fee-for-service model to one that embraces value-based care.

Mainelli discussed the limitations of the traditional fee-for-service (FFS) models and explored the upside to value-based care, specifically how it facilitates a more comprehensive approach to care that includes wraparound services such as transportation and in-home care. She pointed out that a transition to value-based care not only provides a higher level of quality care, but improves the patient experience, particularly for patients with serious mental illness.

“The SMI population has a huge unmet need. As payers face growing costs, they need a way to manage this population that is different from what we’ve historically done,” Mainelli said. “We repeatedly hear this need in the market; however, we also find that payors have varying degrees of readiness for value-based care, so we offer multiple options in VBC contracting, not one-size fits all.”

Other takeaways Mainelli noted from the conference include:

• Quartet Health takes pride in being at the forefront of the total cost of care (TCoC) accountability in behavioral health as different payment models are considered throughout the industry.
• Quartet’s innovative Whole Health program, designed specifically for the SMI community, is gaining traction just as the industry expresses growing interest in partnering for solutions for SMI patients.
• Quartet’s access to data, through its Care Connections platform, fosters a more supportive value-based care approach.

The Kennedy Forum Alignment for Progress Conference

We always look forward to participating in behavioral health conversations, especially when board member Patrick Kennedy is involved. Our team attended the Kennedy Forum Alignment for Progress conference in late September and appreciated the opportunity to surround ourselves with our industry’s thought leaders.

The Quartet team particularly appreciated goals shared during the conference’s keynote address. Looking ahead to 2033, Rebecca Bagley and Kana Enomoto spoke about the “90-90-90” goal: 90% of the population is screened for mental health and substance use disorder, 90% who need treatment receive quality care, and 90% are being supported in recovery.

HLTH 2024 Conference

At the HLTH 2024 conference in late October, we were surrounded by mental health innovation and appreciated the feedback we received about our efforts to encourage value-based care and our approach to providing the SMI population with the wraparound care it needs through Whole Health.

Not only were industry leaders at the conference impressed by our SMI population engagement data, but we appreciated that interest in SMI TCoC accountability continues to be the subject of substantive conversation — with a number of leaders viewing our Whole Health program as a bold move in the right direction.

BHT2024 Conference

In early November, our Chief Growth Officer, Karen Mitchell, joined a panel at the Behavioral Health Tech conference to discuss how we can reduce the costs of mental health care while maintaining high-quality treatment.

Five key takeaways from that panel discussion included:

• Access, connection, and quality are the basis of a successful framework.
• Moving beyond a FFS model can better meet behavioral health needs.
• For SMI patients, effective and measurable care can make a significant impact.
• Quartet’s Whole Health program highlights the importance of integrating services that address social, behavioral, and physical health needs, and includes many services that would not be reimbursed with traditional FFS.
• Outcomes are everything, but it’s not just about technology. It’s about creating a culture of measurement with providers, patients, and payors.

Looking ahead to 2025, we look forward to more inspiring conversations about mental and behavioral health innovation and, more importantly, we look forward to implementing innovative solutions that lead to improved outcomes.

The post Innovation, Access, and Progress: Takeaways From 2024 Conferences appeared first on Quartet Health.

Recently, we saw an opportunity to offer improved support to a patient population that is consistently underserved. From rural settings to urban communities, patients living with serious mental illness (SMI) often navigate a fragmented system of care while attempting to address all of their needs.

To complicate those efforts — to meet their social, emotional, physical, and mental needs — the individuals searching for services are doing so while also trying to manage a serious mental illness, which is characterized in part by its debilitating nature and its detrimental impact on the  ability to function on a daily basis.

Whole Health, Quartet’s newest clinical program, aims to pioneer a new path forward. And that path will benefit both the patient and the healthcare system.

SMI And Its Impact

As it is, individuals living with an SMI generally face an increased vulnerability to experiencing comorbidities. However, due to the nature of a serious mental illness, those comorbidities can often go unchecked, untreated, or undiagnosed.

SMI refers to severe mental health conditions, including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, panic disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that more than 14 million Americans, or about 5.5% of the U.S. adult population, lived with a serious mental illness in 2021.

The consequences of untreated SMI can be dire.

Statistics shared by the nonprofit Treatment Advocacy Center reveal that at least one in three individuals who are homeless are also living with an SMI. In addition, the SMI patient population is more vulnerable to victimization, more likely to commit violence against a family member, and more at risk for criminalization and suicidal behavior.

At Quartet, we saw an opportunity to introduce a new, whole-person approach to care for this vulnerable patient population.

Whole Health For SMI

Whole Health is a whole-person healthcare initiative on a mission. It aims to improve care, and access to it, while reducing costs. And when it comes to the SMI patient population, we know it’s possible with the approach we’re taking.

By integrating physical and behavioral health care (along with critical social  services), Whole Health facilitates easier connections to care for individuals who often struggle to find and access what they need. The program (launched earlier this year in New Jersey) connects patients with a personalized care team that includes physical and behavioral health specialists.

That care team coordinates wraparound care for the patient, addressing needs as they arise, from medication management to social services and beyond. By addressing those needs from a preventative stance, rather than an acute, reactive one, health systems and insurers realize a reduction in the cost to care for SMI patients.

And patients experience more consistent and prolonged stability and balance.

Our latest whitepaper, “Achieving Whole-Person Care With Whole Health,” offers a more detailed view of the program.

The post Applying A Whole Health Solution To SMI appeared first on Quartet Health.

This line from a William Blake poem speaks to the impact and meaning even the smallest things in our lives can have. As we recognize World Mental Health Day today, we want to take a moment to reflect on each of our unique “worlds” — and the things and people that help support us.

We asked our Quartet Team to think about their own personal definitions of their “world” and share how various elements – such as family, friends, pets, hobbies, community, etc. – help support their mental health and wellbeing.

Even the smallest things in our lives can have a big impact. The world may seem expansive and overwhelming — but we each have our own unique spheres of influence, our own connections and support systems. So what are the things, big and small, that help support our mental health?

“My nuclear family serves as my ‘rock’ and primary support system. They make me laugh and remind me of all the things I have to be grateful for. This includes my husband John and my daughters Grace and Clare. Let’s not forget my two Labrador Retrievers Cira and Luna!”

Christina Mainelli, CEO

“I am very blessed to have two loving and caring parents and a belief in God who I credit to my outlook and perspective on life. My dad encourages a strong work ethic, purpose, and always contributing. Losing yourself in ‘the work’ has proven to help me not get caught up in the trials and tribulations at hand. My mom always stressed approaching everything I do with a positive outlook and not let the words of others or the immediate challenge get you down. And my Faith gives me conviction in something greater. Forgiveness (yourself and others), living the Golden Rule, and belief in the eternity helps provide calm and a long-term view when storms arise.”

Chris Hendry, SVP of Care Delivery

“My wife, son, and my faith are the primary components of my world of support. Additionally, allowing time to take care of myself, and working with supportive colleagues in a company that is making a positive impact on both the mental and physical health of patients.”

Steve Hrezik, Senior Network Growth Manager

“I’m lucky to have a close relationship with my family. I also have a very close circle of friends that are always there for me, no judgment. And my fiancé, Shawn, is a huge part of my support system. He’s such an inspiring influence and I’m so glad I get to share my life with him. Also can’t forget about my two fur babies, Frankie and Willow!”

Dustin Diehl, Director of Marketing

“My family and friends make up my world of support. Coaching my kids’ sports team is my outlet to take my mind off areas in my life that may be causing stress and anxiety. I’m able to disconnect from technology and be present in coaching and supporting them.”

Michael Szmeiter, SVP – Strategy and Operations

“Meaningful work, running, time in the woods, family and our Irish and Jewish traditions make up my world of support!”

Michael O’Brien, MD, Executive Medical Director of Whole Health

“Family, friends, self-care routines, quiet moments to recharge and the invaluable support of my mentors. Each piece helps me find balance, strength, and peace.”

Madelyne Osorio, Network Support Manager

“A world of support to me is my friends. They are consistently there to uplift and encourage me. Whether that is a night in, a concert/show, or just being there as a listening ear.”

Jess Bryant, Manager of Talent Acquisition

“My world of support is my sons. They give me strength, purpose, and constant motivation to prioritize my mental health. Their love and joy keep me grounded and remind me of the importance of self-care every day.”

Lennie Carter, Senior Business Development Executive

The post Defining “My World of Support” This World Mental Health Day appeared first on Quartet Health.

As a value-based behavioral healthcare company, Quartet Health has evolved to become an organization that embraces an enterprise approach to care, introducing multiple avenues of care to improve patient outcomes through holistic healthcare enablement and delivery solutions. By taking a whole-person approach, we are driven to improve lives, support communities, and promote lasting change.

Care Enablement

• Care Connections: Combines our tech platform, white-glove care navigation, and a curated network to identify, match, and connect patients to the right care.
• Network Solutions: Enables value-based payment models by aligning provider incentives with quality, in addition to providing analytics, reporting, and customized operational support.

Care Delivery

• Virtual Care: Delivers high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health services through our staffing solution, innovaTel by Quartet, and our virtual clinic, Quartet Medical.
• Whole Health: A unique, whole-person delivery solution featuring a fully-integrated physical and behavioral health model, providing wraparound services for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) at no additional cost to the patient.

Ready to see how Quartet Health is transforming behavioral health care? Download our latest whitepaper and discover our enterprise approach to care.

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that about 6% of the American population experiences post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Statistics from 2020 indicate that about 13 million Americans had PTSD that year.

To understand the best way to treat PTSD, it’s important to understand what it is, the symptoms it presents, and the gaps in care that exist for the millions of individuals navigating the illness.

Trauma and Its Impact

Traumatic events are varied, and individuals process them in their own unique ways. During childhood, trauma can include physical harm or neglect as well as witnessing events that include drug use, death, abuse, or violence. In adulthood, similar traumatic events can have a lasting impact, from sexual abuse or assault to physical violence, combat, or events that result in death or serious injury. Trauma has also more recently been linked to the pandemic as well as experiences related to gender identity, particularly among transgender and nonbinary populations.

Overall though, statistics indicate that women are more likely to experience PTSD than men, while veterans — particularly those who are deployed to war zones — are more likely than civilians to experience the illness.

PTSD Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms associated with PTSD are varied and often develop well after the occurrence of the traumatic event the individual experienced. To receive a PTSD diagnosis, an individual must experience their symptoms for longer than a month and those symptoms need to be severe enough that they interfere with daily life.

It is for this reason, and others, that Quartet Health and other mental health industry leaders consider PTSD a serious mental illness.

Symptoms include flashbacks and recurring dreams, avoiding certain settings or emotions that may trigger symptoms, reacting to stimuli in ways that demonstrate an individual is easily startled, irritable, edgy, experiencing poor sleep habits or engaging in risky behavior, and demonstrating mood or cognition effects.

Difficulty remembering details of a traumatic event, social isolation, negative emotions, exaggerated blame, and negative thoughts about the world and oneself are all indicators of PTSD-related mood or cognition challenges.

Treatment Options for PTSD

The National Institute of Mental Health reports that the typical treatment for individuals experiencing PTSD includes psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two together. In addition, support from family and friends is beneficial.

PTSD is a complex condition, not only for the symptoms it presents but also for the common co-occurring conditions that could be experienced at the same time — including, panic disorder, depression, suicidal thoughts, and substance use. The complexity of the illness is an indicator of how it can impact daily activities.

Complex conditions require an informed approach to treatment, and it’s with that understanding that Whole Health by Quartet, a program designed to support patients with serious mental illness, exists. PTSD is among the conditions that Whole Health supports, offering patients a single point of contact for all of their care needs — from physical to mental and behavioral to social.

PTSD, like many serious mental illnesses, needs a wraparound approach to care. By working with payers, Whole Health provides that in a novel way.

The post Understanding PTSD Prevalence, Symptoms, and Treatment appeared first on Quartet Health.

From work-life balance initiatives to benefits packages that include mental health-related services to ERGs that allow employees to connect with coworkers across like-minded topics and experiences, mental health and mental wellness is getting the attention it has long deserved.

Prioritizing mental health also positions organizations to more effectively execute on their core values. When members of an organization understand that their mental health is valued, and that they need to and are encouraged to prioritize it, it promotes an overall atmosphere where organizations are operating at their best.

At Quartet Health, this is the ethos we embrace, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month — as we embark on a Wellness Warrior Challenge — but every day. We’ve found that our core values create a supportive and meaningful environment for our team members.

Put patients first. As an organization committed to making mental health care easier, we put patients first. As we both enable and deliver care, our dedication to putting patients first extends to our team members. Putting patients first prioritizes the real reason we do the work that we do. When we stay laser-focused on the “why” of our work, we’re able to perform at our best.

Operate as one team. As an organization, we value a team atmosphere and team effort, with an understanding that a cohesive environment helps us all achieve our goals. And through the work we do, most notably with our new Whole Health by Quartet program, we care for individuals living with serious mental illness, helping them maintain a stable, healthy life. We view the health of our own team members through the same lens. Encouraging team members to prioritize their mental health allows us, as an organization, to more effectively operate as one team.

Execute with excellence. We expect our team members to commit to their work with an understanding that excellence is the goal. The patients we work with deserve it. And, operating at that level requires a commitment to yourself as an individual, as well, from a wellness perspective.

Remain resilient. Challenges are inevitable, both personally and professionally. At Quartet, we recognize that. Part of a commitment to remaining resilient includes an investment in mental health and wellness practices. Creating room for recovery is essential to fostering resiliency. That’s a spirit we embrace both with our internal team, and also with our external partners and patients.

Innovate with speed and intention. We wholeheartedly believe that necessity is the mother of invention, which is why focused innovation is part of our DNA. Our Whole Health program, mentioned above, is an example of that innovation, developed with speed and intention. We welcome the opportunities that allow us to try something different, on an individual basis or as a team, because we never know the answers that could come from it.

#WellnessWarriors

This Mental Health Awareness Month, we challenged our team to live our core values loudly and proudly. Every Wednesday in May (#WellnessWednesdays!), we asked our team (#WellnessWarriors!) to commit to a wellness activity. This could include: practicing gratitude by writing in a journal; a 30-minute walk outside; silencing all notifications and listening to a favorite podcast; enjoying a favorite drink at a local cafe … any version of self-care that helps our team stay balanced and well.

After all, we can’t show up for others if we don’t show up for ourselves.

How are you showing up for yourself this Mental Health Awareness Month?

The post Mental Wellness Allows Teams To Live Out Core Values appeared first on Quartet Health.

Quartet Health President and Chief Operating Officer, Anay Patel, moderated the panel, alongside BCBSM and Blue Care Network Director of Behavioral Health Strategy and Planning, Julia Isaacs, and Easterseals MORC Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer, Juliana Harper.

The Challenge and the Innovative Response

Commercially insured members in Michigan, especially those diagnosed with SMI like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or major depression (which represent 1 in 5 behavioral health conditions), have historically faced limited options for behavioral health care. It was stated that, historically, in Michigan,commercially insured members had even fewer care options than those who are uninsured. And while telebehavioral health workforce development solutions like innovaTel Telepsychiatry help alleviate the pressure on care delivery organizations, the ever-present behavioral health provider shortage (especially for those able to treat SMI) only adds to the challenges.

Additionally, inpatient admission rates and total spend of behavioral health patients with co-occuring mental health and substance abuse conditions were five times that of other behavioral health patients, with 18K+ behavioral health adverse events (including suicide, self-harm, or overdose) reported. “There wasn’t anything that was serving this patient population well. Care coordination and case management programs were siloed and fragmented,” said Harper.

In response, the panel discussed the creation of the Adult Intensive Service (AIS) program, an initiative designed to provide a public mental health perspective to a private insurance framework, bridging significant care gaps. Many of the services the AIS program incentivizes were previously limited or not available for SMI patients through a comprehensive payment model, especially as it relates to wraparound care for the commercially insured population.

Program Timeline

4 P’s of the AIS Program

• Population

• • • Adults or children with SMI/serious emotional disturbance (SED), mood disorders, psychotic disorders, co-occurring substance use, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Program Services

• • • Fast access to care
    • Comprehensive ASD evaluation completion
    • Care coordination and case management
    • Social determinants of health (SDoH) support, peer support, and parental support
    • Personalized treatment plans

• Performance

• • • Average time to services
    • Average time from intake to first appointment
    • Current satisfaction with services    

• Payment

• • Provider-Delivered Care Management (PDCM) codes
    • 99847: First hour billed monthly
    • 99489: Subsequent 30 minutes billed monthly
  • Fee-for-service (FFS) schedule supporting in-scope psychiatric and therapy services
  • No pre-authorization requirement for qualifying providers

Meaningful Outcomes

The AIS program has been instrumental in achieving remarkable improvements in patient care and cost efficiency. Some of the impressive outcomes highlighted include:

• Rapid Access to Care: The program has reduced the average time from referral to outreach to just one day, and from intake to treatment to less than one week, even more impressive when compared to the 30-40 day time-to-care for SMI patients reported in other markets.
• Year-over-Year Growth: There has been a 2.5x increase in patients engaged year over year (YoY) from 2022 to 2023.
• Enhanced Safety and Satisfaction: There was an 8% decrease in adverse events YoY, alongside a 97.5% member satisfaction rate, demonstrating both the safety and effectiveness of the care provided.
• Reduced Inpatient Admissions: Less than 10% of engaged members were admitted to inpatient care, reflecting the program’s success in managing care in less restrictive environments.

Leveraging Collaborations and Alternative Models

Anay Patel, President and COO at Quartet Health, emphasized the need for innovative solutions, noting, “We’re seeing more collaboration between payers and providers to meet the needs of acute behavioral health patient populations, especially those with serious mental illnesses. There’s a needed paradigm shift towards incentivizing services that improve access to care and total cost of care, not at the expense of costlier care.” This collaborative spirit is central to the AIS program’s success and is vital for its future expansions. Patel later added, “AIS is a fantastic example of how to start along a glide-path with alternative payment models. As payers and providers start to see scalable outcomes, they can collaboratively move along the continuum of structured risk models.”

Juliana Harper, Senior VP and Chief Program Officer at Easterseals MORC, discussed the critical nature of partnerships, stating, “It all started by building relationships and staying persistent.” She further highlighted the effectiveness of team-based care: “Team-based care is engaging and leads to clinician and patient satisfaction.”

Julia Isaacs, Director of Behavioral Health Strategy and Planning at BCBSM, underscored the value of alternative payment models, “The spirit of this alternative payment model is that we want to make sure we cover services that are not usually covered in traditional commercial insurance.” And what’s more? “When we expand services, we see cost savings.”

The Future of Behavioral Health Care and What’s Next

The future of these alternative payment models looks promising, with plans to further refine and expand these strategies. Isaacs shared the vision for the evolution of these models: “We’re looking for partners, not just providers. You’re likely already providing these services to your patients; you’re just not getting paid for it. We want to pay you for it.”

Harper had this advice to those interested in implementing similar models: “We didn’t wait for the payers to come to us; we went to them. Find your people and be persistent.”

Isaacs echoed this sentiment, also emphasizing the need for program education: “We need partnerships and risk arrangements to help facilitate physical and behavioral health integration. It’s not about ‘if you build it they will come.’ If you build it, they don’t know you built it. There’s an educational component to this.”

The panel at NatCon24 highlighted the significant strides being made in behavioral health through innovative payment models. The AIS program and similar initiatives represent pivotal advancements in making behavioral health care more accessible, effective, and efficient. By continuing to adapt and expand these models, we can ensure a more robust and responsive health care system that better serves individuals with SMI and enhances overall community health.

Access the full presentation deck to learn more.

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In partnership with data intelligence platform, Statista, Newsweek identified “new services and technologies that are transforming health care […] The list includes 400 companies based in 35 countries; they represent seven industry segments including diagnostics, health records, medical management and telehealth.”

Quartet Health was recognized in the “Treatment” category, highlighting the significant strides we’ve made in our care delivery offerings, including telebehavioral health staffing through innovaTel Telepsychiatry, virtual clinic access, and our newly launched Whole Health program.

“We hope this ranking helps all health care industry stakeholders and patients identify the digital health companies that make the most sense for them,” said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief at Newsweek.

Thank you to our incredible team and partners for their resiliency and excellence. This recognition wouldn’t be possible without all of you!

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The value of 911 is carried with individuals their entire lives, as if it’s an automatic reflex. Mental Health First Aid could be just as valuable for an individual experiencing an emotional or behavioral health crisis. 

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based set of practices that equips individuals with the necessary training and skills to respond to and support others who are experiencing a crisis. In fact, those who administer the training hope to make it as common as CPR training, in part because the speed with which an individual in crisis receives care is especially influential on the outcome they experience.

Mental Health First Aid, which is managed, operated and disseminated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, is a skillset that could be beneficial in a variety of settings — from the corporate world to schools to correctional institutions to the community level. The course covers a wealth of information and is anchored by beliefs focused on recovery and resiliency for the individual experiencing a crisis.

Those who enroll in a course learn about a number of conditions, including psychosis, depression and mood disorders, anxiety and trauma, as well as substance abuse disorders. They are equipped with an action plan that assesses for risk of suicide or harm, refrains from judgement, offers reassurance, and encourages professional help, among other useful strategies. 

Through role playing and activities, those enrolled in the course learn how to approach and address situations related to panic attacks, suicidal thoughts or behaviors, delusions or hallucinations, overdose or withdrawal, and the responses associated with a traumatic event.

Ultimately, Mental Health First Aid is a way to get people in crisis connected with care. Due to the ongoing and increasing demand for care, at a time when many areas are experiencing a mental health provider shortage, Mental Health First Aid acts as a compassionate, peer-to-peer response. And, that type of evidence-based response could change the trajectory of individual lives.

One case study in particular, with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, demonstrated the value of Mental Health First Aid training for its ability to de-escalate situations, leading to better outcomes than could have otherwise unfolded.

At Quartet Health, and its organizational partner innovaTel, we find tremendous upside in the availability of Mental Health First Aid, knowing it provides an informed stop-gap for individuals in crisis before they receive professional support. In fact, Quartet’s Whole Health program, designed for patients navigating a serious mental illness, is informed by the principles embraced by Mental Health First Aid. 

By offering comprehensive support, to include medication management, transportation support and treatment navigation — among other services — the Whole Health program takes into account all of the determinants and challenges an individual faces. And it offers individuals the guidance that is needed to manage the complexities of their circumstances, with the ultimate goal of improved outcomes.

Learn more here.

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In fact, “health” is defined by the World Health Organization as not simply the absence of illness or disease but a state of “complete physical, mental and social well-being.”

Data indicates that more than a third of individuals who live with severe mental health conditions also live with chronic health conditions. In addition, individuals living with a mental health condition are at a higher risk of developing chronic physical ailments.

For example, a mental illness may create challenges for an individual who is trying to navigate care options for a physical health problem. The individual may have trouble concentrating on the details involved with receiving proper care, they may experience anxiety related to their physical condition, or they may not have the motivation that is required to attend to their physical health needs. Similar factors are at play when an individual experiences symptoms of a physical illness that then impacts their mental health. They may not have the physical stamina, wherewithal or motivation to seek and access the mental health support they need.

While research has long confirmed the connection between physical and mental health, the landscape of healthcare delivery is still evolving to find a footing that addresses care in an integrated way that benefits the patient in a holistic manner.

That appreciation for a holistic approach to care extends to Quartet Health, which offers the Whole Health program — an initiative developed with payer partners that facilitates comprehensive care delivery to individuals living with a severe mental illness.

Studies have indicated that those living with a severe mental illness (SMI) are exponentially more likely to also be living with a number of physical challenges, from respiratory disease to cardiovascular disease to liver disease. And, social determinants of health — from unstable housing to unreliable transportation — compound the challenges those living with SMI face.

Statistics show that individuals living with SMI experience a 15 to 20-year shorter lifespan on average, while experiencing a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, significant social determinants of health (SDoH) barriers, and limited treatment access.

“Patients with serious mental illness often have worse outcomes and a lower life expectancy, and they experience a fragmented healthcare system that does not adequately address their behavioral, physical, and social needs” said Dr. Michael J. Lipp, Quartet Health’s Chief Medical Officer, and former CMO of the CMS Innovation Center. “Patients often struggle to get access to care, and the care they do receive is often uncoordinated. The Whole Health program will provide care that is coordinated, comprehensive and convenient, at no additional cost to patients.”

The Whole Health program aims to minimize barriers to care, so that those in need of mental, physical and social services support are able to not only access it, but access it in a more streamlined way. It is not an understatement to describe the healthcare industry as nuanced and complicated, which is why Quartet has found it important, valuable and vital to make needed care easier to navigate.

And inevitably, an easier path reduces the time that is needed to seek and receive care, which is also an important aspect of the Whole Health program. Improving speed to care, by improving access — through streamlined navigation and telebehavioral health partnerships — lays the groundwork for improved outcomes.

Telebehavioral health partnerships, offered by Quartet Health’s organizational partner innovaTel, have for years helped organizations improve access to care for patients in need. And those organizations include integrated care settings, from Community Mental Health Clinics (CMHCs) to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).

These organizations, and others like them that value an integrated approach to mental and physical healthcare, are able to connect patients in need of care to the providers who are equipped to deliver it — in a more efficient way when compared to disconnected practices. And because physical health and mental health are intertwined, proper care for needs in both realms facilitates better outcomes for that patient across the board.

Learn more about Whole Health by Quartet.

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