CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Children’s National Hospital Expand Access to Mental Health and Chronic Condition Support for Kids
May 01 2024 - 1:01PM
Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the
largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations in the nation, and
Children’s National Hospital, a top-ranked children’s hospital
located in Washington, D.C., announced a new alliance that’s taking
a unique approach to help address the youth mental health crisis
and improve health outcomes.
As part of this alliance,
CareFirst has increased the reimbursement for preventive and mental
health care for primary care providers who go through specialized
mental health training focused on depression, suicide prevention,
anxiety, ADHD and eating disorders. The training is offered through
the Pediatric Health Network, the clinically integrated network of
healthcare providers for Children’s National, to its more than
1,500 members including more than 700 primary care
physicians.
In 2021, U.S. Surgeon
General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory detailing an urgent
youth mental health crisis. Unfortunately, access to pediatric
mental health care is a national challenge, and for children and
families, timely and effective support can be elusive. Empowering
primary care providers with specialized training will help break
down barriers and reshape care delivery.
“Providers face
challenges due to limited resources and insufficient support in
addressing pediatric mental health needs. CareFirst's commitment to
increasing reimbursement for mental health care underscores the
integral role of primary care providers in this space,” says
Nathaniel Beers, M.D., executive vice president for Community and
Population Health for Children’s National Hospital. “With these
trainings, our providers gain the knowledge, tools and confidence
to handle sensitive conversations, offer vital support and make
informed referrals when needed." The alliance executes
a value-based care payment model for the Children’s National
network of community physicians, enhancing benefits to offer more
value to physicians and patients while aiming to drive improved
outcomes, patient experience and coordination in care. By embedding
mental health care within the familiar confines of primary care
settings, this initiative ensures children receive timely
interventions in an environment they trust. This work
to improve access to mental health services is just one part of the
broader unique payer-provider alliance between CareFirst and
Children’s National to address healthcare disparities and social
determinants of health. Targeted pediatric interventions are set
upon three pillars:
-
- Value-based care
- Community health initiatives
- Member benefit enhancements
Each pillar is delivered
and informed by experts from both organizations with distinct
tactics and funding designed for three key priority health
conditions:
-
- Behavioral and mental health
- Diabetes
- Infant mortality
“As the lines continue to
blur between payers and providers, with vertical integration and
the reimbursement shift from volume to value, insurers and
hospitals need to continue to evolve their relationships with each
other,” said Brian Wheeler, executive vice president of Health
Services for CareFirst. “This model aims to address the need for
affordable healthcare, employing a patient-centric approach that
encourages seamless treatment for the patient and
provider.”
The next major program in
development is focused on improving diabetes care through early
diagnosis to lessen vulnerability and severity and improve
long-term positive health outcomes. Community health initiatives
will continue to be developed through the Children’s National Child
Health Advocacy Institute and Community Health programs with the
support of CareFirst’s philanthropic
efforts. Media Contact:
media@childrensnational.org CareFirst Media Relations:
mediarelations@carefirst.com About CareFirst BlueCross
BlueShield In its 86th year of service, CareFirst, an
independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association,
is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its
affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of
health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5
million individuals and employers in Maryland, the District of
Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2023, CareFirst infused $233
million in support of regional community impact to improve overall
health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality
healthcare. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield,
visit www.carefirst.com. About Children's
National Hospital Children’s National Hospital, based in
Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow
up stronger. Today, it is the No. 5 children’s hospital in the
nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News &
World Report. Children’s National is transforming pediatric
medicine for all children. The Children’s National Research &
Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub
dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids.
Children’s National has been designated three times in a row as a
Magnet® hospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing
and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system
offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary
care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan
area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children’s National is home
to the Children’s National Research Institute and Sheikh Zayed
Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation. It is recognized for
its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong
voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and
national levels. As a non-profit, Children's National relies on
generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care
they need. For more information, follow us
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Jennifer Stinebiser
Children's National Hospital
media@childrensnational.org