Behavioral health integration: a critical component of primary care and the patient-centered medical home

Abstract

Comments on the article "Joint principles: Integrating behavioral health care into the patient-centered medical home" (see record 2014-24217-011). The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, an organization representing a diverse group of stakeholders promoting primary care and the patient-centered medical home, strongly agrees that patients need a primary care system that better integrates behavioral and mental health. As the medical home model of care evolves in light of the scientific evidence, we must not lose sight of measuring what impacts patients and their families most-and patient-centered medical home (PCMH) recognition/certification programs should include the integration of mental and behavioral health if we are sincere in achieving the objectives.