Despite multiple attempts to legislate “parity” between behavioral health and medical benefits, until recently we have been largely unsuccessful in fully integrating the two disciplines. Our fragmented networks of care, the medical orientation benefit plans and even the social stigma associated with behavioral health diagnoses have contributed barriers to this lack of care integration.
To assist healthcare organizations grapple with the complexities of a changing marketplace and the movement toward industry consolidation, Strategic Health Group (SHG) announced today the development of a new strategic-alignment assessment toolkit that allows hospitals, health systems and health plans to easily evaluate the potential success of a merger or affiliation strategy.
A frequent outgrowth of leadership efforts to create a new strategic plan is the desire to consider strategic partnerships as an attractive road to long-term sustainability and growth. I have seen this temptation repeatedly surface when called upon to advise boards and/or senior management of healthcare organizations.
Once considered the “ugly duckling” of healthcare, behavioral health is finally beginning to gain proper recognition for the significant role it plays in a patient’s overall health. From the cognitive deficiencies caused by dementia and Alzheimer’s to the direct physical complications of substance abuse and addiction, health plan executives, clinicians and payers are finally focusing attention on the linkage.
Hank Osowski, managing director of Strategic Health Group, will deliver the keynote address at the “Integrated Behavioral Health” conference April 26-27 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.