APA Receives Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative Award

Sep 29, 2015

Collaborative network will join federal government and other partners in supporting large-scale health care transformation among clinician practices

Arlington, Va., – The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is one of 39 health care collaborative networks selected to participate in the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, announced today by Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell. APA will receive up to $2.9 million over four years to train a network of practicing psychiatrists throughout the United States in the clinical and leadership skills needed to support primary care practices that are implementing integrated behavioral health programs.

“Supporting doctors and other health care professionals change the way they work is critical to improving quality and spending our health care dollars more wisely,” said Secretary Burwell. “These awards will give patients more of the information they need to make informed decisions about their care and give clinicians access to information and support to improve care coordination and quality outcomes.”

As a Support and Alignment Network, APA will train 3,500 psychiatrists to expand their quality improvement capacity, learn from one another, and achieve common goals of improved care, better health and reduced cost. The network will provide leadership training and teach clinical skills related to evidence-based integrated care consultation. These trainings will help participating clinicians meet the initiative’s phases of transformation and associated milestones, clinical and operational results.

“Research shows that integrating behavioral health care into primary care settings improves patient outcomes and reduces health care spending,” said APA President Renee Binder, MD. “This grant will allow APA to expand the number of psychiatrists who are trained to provide evidence-based integrated mental health care to people throughout the United States.”

These awards are part of a comprehensive strategy advanced by the Affordable Care Act that enables new levels of coordination, continuity, and integration of care, while transitioning volume-driven systems to value-based, patient-centered, health care services. It builds upon successful models and programs such as the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Organization Program, Partnership for Patients with Hospital Engagement Networks, and Accountable Care Organizations.

View more information on the Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative.

The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty society whose more than 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and research of mental illnesses, including substance use disorders. Visit the APA at www.psychiatry.org.

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