Integrating behavioral health into primary care focus of next CEPAC meeting

The next CEPAC meeting will review the latest research on best practices to effectively integrate behavioral health into primary care practice. Up to 70% of physician visits include a behavioral health component. Patients with chronic conditions are more likely to experience mental illness as well and costs for these patients can be two to three times higher. Successful integration of behavioral health into primary care practice holds great promise to improve health outcomes, maximize capacity, and control costs. CEPAC is a New England group of researchers, consumers, physicians and payers that evaluates and translates the best information on treatment effectiveness into useable tools and policies to improve the quality and value of health care in the region. Past CEPAC topics have included evaluations of treatments for opioid addiction, breast cancer screening, and community health worker services. The meeting will be May 1st in Boston. Registration is free.