The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’s new Behavioral Health Strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to improving access, quality, and outcomes across mental health and substance use services. The strategy focuses on advancing whole-person care through integration of behavioral and physical health, expanding early intervention and prevention, strengthening the workforce, leveraging telehealth and digital tools, and addressing disparities to better serve diverse populations. The strategic pillars of the strategy include:
- Focus on person-centered health promotion, early prevention and care opportunities, and integrative care across physical and behavioral health, particularly for children and adolescents
- Drive high value and evidence-based care with a focus on prevention and treatment through value-based payment models and quality measures
- Enhance access to effective technologies such as mobile and digital treatments and tools to enable high quality care and encourage healthy choices that can support wellness
- Engage and coordinate with states, people, providers, and communities for effective impact
- Coordinate with our federal partners to synergize and align federal programs in an evidence- informed and data-driven manner