Best Emergency Department Based Behavioral Health Interventions Products

Medicaid and vulnerable populations are particularly impacted by the lack of access to behavioral health services and an estimated 9 million Medicaid adults have been diagnosed with mental illness, over 3 million have a substance use disorder (SUD), and nearly 1.8 have both; Medicaid spending for behavioral health patients is 4x higher than normal, and behavioral health Medicaid patients account for a disproportionate share of unnecessary ED visits.

Behavioral health access includes the following capabilities:

• Increasing Access & Capacity for Behavioral Health
• Tele-Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Services
• Telemental Services
• Peer Support Services
• On-demand Behavioral Health Services
• Driving Clinical Innovation for Behavioral Health
• Behavioral Health Screening
• Behavioral Health Integration
• ED-based Mental Health Interventions
• ED-based Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Interventions

ED-based Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Interventions are initiatives implemented in emergency departments to identify and address substance use disorders among patients. These may include screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT), as well as the initiation of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. By leveraging the ED as a critical access point, these interventions aim to engage patients in treatment, reduce harm, and improve long-term outcomes for individuals with SUD.

Virtual Health is a broad term meant to encompass traditional terms such as "telemedicine" and "telehealth" as well as lean in to emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Voice, the Internet of Things (IoT), Predictive Analytics, and even Virtual Reality. These maturing and emerging technologies to deliver care offer unprecedented opportunities to both consumers and health systems. For consumers, benefits can include increased access, greater convenience, personalized experience, improved communication, and reduced costs. For health systems, benefits can include growth, retention, improved margins on at-risk populations, improved utilization of providers and facilities, reduced wait times, expanded markets, differentiation, and more.

The Overarching Case for Action:

• A pervasive need: Addiction/overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50, and 18.2 million Americans are in the current “addiction treatment gap". Substance misuse generates $442B in economic loss per year.
• An evolving role for incumbents: Medicaid MCO penetration is shifting the cost burden to plans and, in turn, health systems. To treat SUD, providers are pivoting from an infectious disease care model to a chronic...

ED-based Mental Health Interventions are specialized services provided in emergency departments to address acute psychiatric crises. These interventions include rapid assessment, stabilization, and initiation of treatment for patients presenting with mental health emergencies. The goal is to provide immediate care, prevent further deterioration, and facilitate appropriate referrals to ongoing mental health services. These interventions often involve collaboration with mental health professionals, such as psychiatrists and social workers, to ensure comprehensive care.