In this edition of our “What They’re Watching” series, Peter Weir, MD, Executive Director of Population Health at University of Utah Health, says one of his top priorities is integrating behavioral and physical health. He says the separation of the two critical areas of healthcare is “artificial.”
“As a doctor taking care of patients, when those things are split up, it also splits up people’s care. And when you also fracture people’s care, it usually means poorer outcomes.”
The passage of House Bill 413 last year created a workgroup tasked with, among other things, identifying ways to integrate behavioral health services into Medicaid programs. The workgroup includes various influential health leaders in the state and is scheduled to have their next meeting on Feb. 3rd.