Connecting Body and Mind: A Resource Guide to Integrated Health Care in Texas and the United States

There is a call across the country and in Texas to improve health care systems through integrated care. Integrated health care is the systematic coordination of physical and behavioral health services. The idea is that physical and behavioral health problems often occur at the same time and that integrating services will provide the best results and be the most acceptable to individuals receiving services. However, the health, mental health and substance abuse treatment systems developed independently, are physically separate and typically are financed separately. Shifting to integrated care requires substantial changes to existing service systems and is a challenging endeavor. This report summarizes various approaches to integration and what is known about their effectiveness. It also describes integrated health care programs in Texas and nationally and identifies resources to assist with developing and implementing integrated care systems.