In 2019, Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest (BHPMW) began an exciting and innovative project with Steward Health Choice, a MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO). At the request of the ACO, BHPMW worked with several pediatric primary care practices in the Worcester area to assist patients in connecting with the right services and supports to meet their behavioral health needs. Steward Health Choice awarded a grant to the BHPMW to support this work, as part of their efforts to partner with community based organizations to enhance the range and quality of services offered to their members.
During the course of this project, we provided service navigation and care coordination to over 100 identified pediatric patients and their families by connecting them with local behavioral health providers and aiding successful engagement in services.
BHPMW expanded the scope of their provider network to include behavioral health agencies in the Worcester area. These providers offer a broad range of clinical supports including outpatient counseling, in home therapy, medication management, psychological evaluation and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) services. BHPMW leveraged relationships with these providers throughout the project to facilitate expedited referrals and support member engagement.
BHPMW worked closely with Steward Health Choice and their pediatric providers to ensure integration of care. The majority of members and families surveyed reported feeling highly satisfied with the support they received and noted that the project helped them get connected to services quicker than they expected or quicker than they had experienced in the past. Many of these members were “stuck” in the system, either waiting for services they had already been referred to or were confused about the purpose of the services they were currently receiving. Some needed longer- term care coordination to manage their services in an ongoing manner.
Many of these members were “stuck” in the system, either waiting for services they had already been referred to or were confused about the purpose of the services they were currently receiving.
“BHPMW was able to support these youth and families in getting “unstuck” by facilitating communication, amplifying the family’s voice, and ensuring secure connections without members ‘falling through the cracks’ of the often-confusing behavioral health system.”
– ANNE PELLETIER PARKER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR , BHPMW
Based on this year-long pilot program, many of the successes and lessons learned can be carried forward. BHPMW welcomes any opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders to address long standing challenges within the behavioral health and social service delivery system through collaborative and innovative solutions.
Are you interested in partnering with Behavioral Health Partners of MetroWest? Contact Anne Pelletier Parker at aparker@bhpmw.info.
