Past Priority Area: Integrating Mental Health and Substance Use Services
In New York, 50% of people who suffer from a mental health disorder are simultaneously struggling with some form of substance use. NYHealth invested nearly $4 million over five years, through 2012, to improve care for people who cope with mental health and substance use conditions at the same time, with a focus on reducing clinical, regulatory, and financial barriers.
Achieving Integrated Care for Co-Occurring Conditions
Through the establishment of the Center for Excellence in Integrated Care (CEIC), NYHealth supported efforts at clinical delivery sites throughout all phases of the recovery process, including identifying, diagnosing, and treating both conditions simultaneously. At the end of 2012, after a five-year investment, NYHealth had successfully achieved its goals in this area. CEIC exceeded its target of working with 600 of the 1,000 licensed mental health and substance use programs across the State to help them make the necessary changes to address people’s mental health and substance use problems at the same time. Early evaluation results of the initiative show that these sites are now offering integrated care for people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
