Clinical Integration: Accountable Care and Population Health, Third Edition, is a forthcoming book that will provide a fresh set of insights and new information on the evolution of clinically integrated networks (CINs) across the United States (US) healthcare system. The third edition (due out in early 2015) transitions from the original collaborative work of its four original authors to a 14-chapter anthology that provides a refresh on original issues and introduces a number of new topics including patient engagement, standards for CINs, care coordination, and behavioral health. All of which are critical to the future growth of CINs. Chapter 11, developed by a team of healthcare and behavioral health industry executives and thought leaders, discusses many critical issues surrounding the need for increasing inclusion of behavioral health services in CINs and accountable care organizations (ACOs). The chapter highlights and emphasizes the importance of integrating behavioral health and medical care as a "value-added model" that can lead to overall health improvement, increased patient satisfaction, and cost reductions.
About the Author: Roger G. Kathol, MD, CPE, is president of Cartesian Solutions, Inc., is a health care consultant who assists employers, government agencies, health plans, hospitals and clinics, and care management vendors develop integrated medical and behavioral health programs for patients with high cost health complexity. Dr. Kathol is board certified in internal medicine, psychiatry, and medical management with extensive experience gained during 22 years as a physician/teacher/researcher at the University of Iowa and 16 years as an international health complexity and integrated health solutions, which improve care quality, augment outcomes, and lower total health care and health-related costs. Steve Melek, FSA, MAAA, is principal and consulting actuary with the Denver Health practice of Milliman. Steve's areas of expertise include healthcare product development, management, and financial analyses. Susan C. Sargent, MBA, is president of Sargent Healthcare Management Advisors, LLC. Lee Sacks, MD, has served as Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer since 1997 and is responsible for health outcomes, safety, clinical transformation, information systems, risk management/insurance, research and medical education and clinical laboratory services at Advocate Health Care. He also serves as Chief Executive Officer of Advocate Physician Partners, the clinically integrated network with 4,500 physicians serving 610,000 attributable lives. Kavita K. Patel, MD, MS, is is a Fellow and Managing Director in the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at the Brookings Institution where she leads research on delivery system reforms, healthcare cost, physician payment and healthcare workforce productivity.