This brief summarizes key challenges faced by the rural ambulatory safety net in delivering primary care and behavioral health services since COVID-19 and the policy changes that have been implemented in response to those challenges. It also offers state-level policy recommendations to improve rural-specific primary care and behavioral health care through sustaining and supporting the movement towards telehealth, addressing social needs, and advancing value-based payment and care.
Speakers from Oakland Community Health Network, the public community mental health center and public Medicaid specialty health plan for Oakland County, Michigan, share their experience of utilizing an outcomes-based payment model for behavioral health services. OCHN also shares lessons learned for community mental health centers in other states that are pursuing similar types of payment models.