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Care Integration in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Behavioral Health

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Abstract

Individuals with co-occurring serious mental illness and substance use disorders experience a highly fragmented system of care, contributing to poor health outcomes and elevated levels of unmet treatment needs. Several elements in the health care reform law may address these issues by enhancing the integration of physical and behavioral health care systems. The purpose of this paper is to analyze these elements, which fall into three domains: increasing access, restructuring financing and reimbursement mechanisms, and enhancing infrastructure. We conclude with a consideration of the implementation challenges that lie ahead.

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Acknowledgment

Partial support for the preparation of this manuscript was provided by an NIAAA doctoral training fellowship to the first author, grant number 5T32AA007567-17.

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Correspondence to Bevin Croft.

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Croft, B., Parish, S.L. Care Integration in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Behavioral Health. Adm Policy Ment Health 40, 258–263 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-012-0405-0

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