Enhancing Mental Health Clinics’ Ability to Provide Quality Care

• Created a database of 365 clinical treatment measures that can be used to diagnose and screen for a behavioral health condition or to monitor treatment progress;
• Generated considerable interest in and use of the database among mental health clinics and behavioral health agencies statewide, including the following results:
  • To date, the database has had nearly 29,000 page views and more than 2,000 new and returning users, and the measures have been viewed nearly 12,000 times.
  • To date, 250 agencies have registered to use the database, of which 149 are located outside of New York City and 101 are in New York City.
  • A two-part webinar on value-based payment and the children’s health care system, hosted by McSilver in partnership with the United Hospital Fund, had more than 600 representatives from 217 behavioral health agencies participate;
• Assessed the capacity of the State’s mental health clinics and behavioral health agencies to manage and evaluate utilization and outcomes data, which found that:
  • Providers, managed care organizations, and other stakeholders need to improve their organizational capacity to use the existing data embedded in their electronic health records.
  • Before these organizations can begin to collect new data and integrate standardized outcome measures, they first need to better understand their client population and the services offered to them; and
• Developed a set of standardized reports that agencies can use to quickly and accurately get a breakdown of their clientele, types of services provided (generally and specific to each diagnosis), and types of insurance received. McSilver trained 63 behavioral health agencies on using the reports.

By the close of the grant period, the project became fully sustainable. Sustainability was achieved through a broad dissemination of the standardized reports; maintenance of and improvements to the database; and integration of the project’s findings and new tools to the network of organizations that received technical assistance from McSilver. In addition to the grant’s impact on behavioral health agencies, policymakers are now equipped with a model for developing meaningful outcome metrics and moving toward a value-based payment system.

Co-Funding and Additional Funds Leveraged: N/A