HRSA's successes and challenges in achieving behavioral health integration among the Regional IX's safety net providers

HRSA is dedicated to supporting delivery of comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary and behavioral health care services—with a focus on uninsured, underserved, and special needs populations. Several programs support integration of behavioral health in a primary care setting: · The Health Center Program serves 20.2 million patients across more than 8,500 sites. Nearly 70 percent of HRSA-supported health centers provide mental health counseling and treatment, and almost 40 percent provide substance abuse counseling and treatment. About 4,000 behavioral health providers work in health centers account for five percent of patient visits. · The National Health Service Corps provides loan repayment and scholarship support to 10,000 clinicians—more than 30 percent of whom are providers in the Behavioral Health fields of Health Service Psychologists, LCSW's, Licensed Professional Counselor, MFT, NP-Psychiatry, Psychiatrist, Psychiatric Nurse Specialist. · The Ryan White Care Act programs support care to more than 500,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. In particular, Part C & D programs provide comprehensive primary care services including behavioral health. · HRSA's Office for the Advancement of Telehealth provides support to improve access to tele-behavioral health services. · HRSA's Graduate Psychology Education grant program supports development and operation of training programs that prepare psychologists that to work in an environment that integrates behavioral health with primary medical care. HRSA's programs endeavor to provide integrated care despite barriers which include billing and reimbursement, regulatory hurdles, and licensing restrictions for both facilities and providers.