MVP Health Care to Transform Care Delivery Through New Integrated Health Initiative

Health Insurer Emphasizes the Importance of Holistic Care For its Members with a Focus on Integrating Behavioral and Physical Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Schenectady, N.Y., July 9, 2019 — MVP Health Care today announced that beginning in early 2020, it will directly administer case management, utilization review, claims payment, and network management for all of its New York members that use behavioral health services, which include mental health and substance use disorder services. MVP’s new integrated health initiative will empower primary care and behavioral health professionals to succeed at integrating patient care, enabling them to support an individual’s journey to better health and optimal living.

Since 2009, Beacon Health Options has administered behavioral health services for MVP members in New York, a partnership that will end in early 2020. Pending regulatory approval, when MVP assumes the administration of all services from Beacon Health Options, MVP members will benefit from a newly established, comprehensive, and engaged behavioral health network, including personalized service and support directly from MVP. Behavioral health providers will benefit from a new structure that lets them treat their patients holistically, and that streamlines their reimbursements.

“At MVP Health Care, we are committed to providing our members with the highest quality of care, and in order to achieve this, we believe all health care should be integrated,” said MVP Health Care’s president, Christopher Del Vecchio. “A person’s physical and mental health are of equal importance and should be treated as such. MVP is leading the way by taking a proactive step toward creating a new model of integrated care that makes a positive difference in people’s lives and builds healthier communities.”

A fragmented care delivery system has kept behavioral health and physical health apart, and as a result, the system has lost sight of the fact that behavior often drives the morbidity of medical conditions. Fragmentation also contributes to poor accessibility, less robust outcomes, and higher medical costs.

“Our new streamlined approach to providing behavioral health services will allow us to look at a patients’ entire continuum of care and evaluate the best way to improve their overall health and well-being,” said MVP Health Care’s chief medical officer, Dr. Bruce Himelstein. “Putting the patient back at the center of our health care system is vital to improving outcomes and by implementing this new initiative, we will provide comprehensive, high-quality care to our members.”

At MVP Health Care:

On average, 20% of MVP members have a diagnosed behavioral health condition.
MVP members with behavioral health conditions can incur costs up to 6 times more than those without a behavioral health diagnosis
Integrating behavioral and physical health care significantly improves outcomes and lowers costs

MVP is working collaboratively with Beacon Health Options to ensure that all areas of care delivery are transitioned seamlessly, with continuity of care for members being a primary focus. Through the remainder of this year, as MVP builds its own behavioral health network comprised of Beacon’s current providers and other services deemed essential to MVP’s integrated health vision, members’ current 2019 benefits will not be affected.

To learn more about MVP Health Care’s new integrated health approach visit, mvphealthcare.com/behavioralhealth.