Dive Brief:
- St. Joseph Health System of Irvine, California and Providence Health & Services of Renton, Washington have joined together to create Providence St. Joseph Health, a nonprofit health and social services system that will act as the parent organization for more than 100,000 providers across seven states, the new joint organization announced.
- The new system made its debut with a commitment toward improving mental healthcare in the United States.
- The effort has begun with the system's creation of the Foundation for Mental Health and Wellness through an initial $100 million investment.
Dive Insight:
The new foundation aims to serve as a catalyst for change in mental healthcare throughout the U.S., the system stated, though it disclosed few details about the foundation's structure and finances aside from the initial investment.
“One of the most challenging health issues facing our communities today is access to effective mental health services," said Dr. Rod Hochman, Providence St. Joseph Health president and CEO, in a prepared statement. "Together, we will convene diverse partners and will be a catalyst for change for the many who struggle with mental health stigmatization, diagnosis and treatment."
The plans involve convening an expert advisory panel to create a "blueprint" for improving mental health care in U.S. communities, as well as collaborating with national and local organizations with expertise in addressing mental health.
The fund will be used to support research and startup operations for efforts around mental health awareness, diagnosis and treatment, with distributions being made through a formal grant process open to both internal and external entities.
The move comes at a time when behavioral and mental healthcare services are increasingly getting the attention it deserves. Yesterday, the House voted to pass H.R. 2646, Tim Murphy's (R-PA) mental health reform bill.
In addition, "Employers are much more interested in behavioral health," Ben Isgur, director, PwC Health Research Institute at PricewaterhouseCoopers, recently told Healthcare Dive. "They’re starting to see the connection between behavioral health and their employees’ total health. There’s a recognition that we have to treat the whole body and the brain is an organ like any other organ and should not be ignored."
This, in addition to a regulatory push to help individuals with mental health issues get the care they need, leads to increased utilization of healthcare services. Between 2005 and 2013, the share of employer health spending related to mental health rose from 5.2% to 6.2%, according to HRI. Expanded access will inflate next year’s healthcare spending growth. However, it may help manage costs in the long-term, as behavioral health is linked to many other health issues.