To advance the field of integration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) created the Academy for Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care as a response to the recognized need for a national resource and coordinating center for those interested in behavioral health and primary care integration.

As behavioral health integration became more prevalent, the demand increased to collect, analyze, synthesize and issue actionable information that providers, policymakers, investigators and consumers can readily use and apply. AHRQ’s Academy is a response to that.

The Academy exists to help build behavioral health care into primary care—a key functionality required to hit the Triple Aim. Most care systems don’t do it systematically (if at all), though many are trying. The Academy exists to aid those who are trying and spread what they learn to others.

It’s easy to participate. The Academy maintains a web portal that’s also an interactive web-based community—a “go-to” place for what you need—such as definitions, measures, implementers guide, literature and all the rest. Here, you’ll interact with others to compare notes and learn from their experiences.

Enter the Academy Portal at: http://integrationacademy.ahrq.gov/ to explore Academy resources and link to the Academy Community.

Contracted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), atom Alliance is working with providers to improve behavioral health screenings and follow-up treatment for older adults. Learn how we can help you.