May 2025 | Ann Nguyen, Alexandra Williams & Stephanie Marcello | Integrated Behavioral Health Works and Saves Money. Why Aren’t We Doing It?
You’re in a pediatric clinic waiting room with your son Liam. He’s been having a tough time lately. The nurse calls you both in and finds that Liam’s scores on the depression and anxiety screeners are high. Your doctor gives you a referral for an in-network therapist who can work with Liam further. After you get home and call the therapist, you find that the next available appointment is not for six months. There’s an out-of-network therapist available sooner, but you can’t afford it. In the meantime, your son’s symptoms are getting worse.
This is an unfortunate reality for many families, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Instead, imagine that you and Liam walked into a pediatric clinic. He’s seen first by the doctor but this time, the doctor brings in a colleague who is a behavioral health clinician and member of Liam’s care team. This clinician spends 30 minutes with you both in the same room where you just met with the doctor. The clinician talks with you about specific behavioral changes that Liam can make and sets up a follow-up appointment. Before you and Liam leave, the clinician checks in with the doctor to update the care plan.
In a clinic with integrated behavioral health, a child with any indications of behavioral health needs is given holistic care right away. While it is not the standard of care today, there are actions that state policymakers and health systems can take to help ensure integrated behavioral health is available in every primary care clinic serving individuals of all ages.