Episcopal Health Foundation has awarded Integral Care $1.5 million to expand our clinical services and implement a new financing and collaborative infrastructure. As our interdisciplinary care teams research new interventions in our clinics, we can demonstrate improved health outcomes and reduced costs of care to managed care organizations and develop a case for a value-based payment structure. Partnering with Episcopal Health Foundation will help us create the infrastructure for this new payment system while providing us flexibility to continue our clinical work by bridging funding streams.

Our new Integrated Practice Unit at Dove Springs, an expansion of services offered by Dell Medical School and Integral Care at the Bipolar Disorder Center at UT Health Austin, will serve as the pilot site for this initiative.  Later this year, Integral Care will bring this collaborative approach to yet another clinic – our 3000 Oak Springs Clinic, which is part of the forthcoming Terrace at Oak Springs permanent supportive housing community.

Integral Care’s integrative, team-based approach provides a strong foundation for implementing a value-based payment structure, which relies on collaboration and coordination throughout the cycle of care. By showing the improved health outcomes and reduced care costs of this care delivery model, we can collaborate with managed care organizations to create a value-based payment system that focuses on improving quality of care, rather than increasing quantity of services.