Behavioral Health Integration Consulting for FQHCs

Behavioral Health Integration for FQHCs

Behavioral health conditions — including depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and trauma — are among the most prevalent and undertreated issues in the communities FQHCs serve. Integrated care models that bring behavioral health services alongside primary care have been shown to improve patient outcomes, increase retention, and reduce total cost of care.

For FQHCs, behavioral health integration also opens access to dedicated HRSA supplement funding, SAMHSA grant opportunities, and enhanced billing for qualified mental health encounters. Our consultants have helped health centers at every stage of integration — from first hire to fully mature co-located models.

Integration Models We Support

- Coordinated Care — Separate but connected primary care and behavioral health services with structured referral and communication protocols

- Co-located Care — Behavioral health clinicians based on-site within the primary care setting with shared patients

- Integrated Care — A fully unified team-based model with shared care plans, warm handoffs, and systematic screening

Service Areas

- Integration Readiness Assessment — Evaluation of current capacity, workflows, staffing, and infrastructure to inform integration model selection

- Staffing Model Design — Recommendations on licensed clinical social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, and peer support specialists within FQHC scope and budget

- Billing & Reimbursement Strategy — Guidance on billing behavioral health encounters under the FQHC PPS, including same-day visit rules and mental health add-on billing

- SAMHSA & HRSA Funding Strategy — Identification and pursuit of targeted funding to support integration launch and expansion

- Workflow & Care Protocol Development — Screening tool selection, warm handoff protocols, shared care plan templates, and panel management tools

- Staff Training — Training for clinical teams on integrated care workflows, documentation standards, and co-treatment approaches

What We Deliver

- Integration Roadmap — A phased implementation plan aligned with your organization's capacity, funding, and clinical goals

- Staffing & Financial Model — A pro forma analysis of integration costs, expected reimbursement, and funding gap strategy

- Policy & Workflow Documentation — Written protocols and training materials for clinical and administrative staff

- Funding Proposal Support — Grant applications targeting behavioral health integration specifically