Elsevier

Psychosomatics

Volume 50, Issue 2, March–April 2009, Pages 93-107
Psychosomatics

Psychiatrists for Medically Complex Patients: Bringing Value at the Physical Health and Mental Health/Substance-Use Disorder Interface

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.psy.50.2.93Get rights and content

Background

In their current configuration, traditional reactive consultation–liaison services see a small percentage of the general-hospital patients who could benefit from their care. These services are poorly reimbursed and bring limited value in terms of clinical improvement and reduction in health-service use.

Method

The authors examine models of cross-disciplinary, integrated health services that have been shown to promote health and lower cost in medically-complex patients, those with complicated admixtures of physical, mental, social, and health-system difficulties.

Conclusion

Psychiatrists who specialize in the treatment of medically-complex patients must now consider a transition from traditional consultation to proactive, value-added programs and bill for services from medical, rather than behavioral, insurance dollars, since the majority of health-enhancement and cost-savings from these programs occur in the medical sector. The authors provide the clinical and financial arguments for such program-creation and the steps that can be taken as psychiatrists for medically-complex patients move to the next generation of interdisciplinary service.

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