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7 <br /> <br />Priority: Substance Abuse & Mental Health <br /> <br />Substance abuse and mental health issues permeate local public health. From <br />exposure to environmental tobacco smoke causing an increase in cardiovascular <br />disease to the challenges associated with ensuring medication compliance in a <br />depressed patient with a communicable disease, mental health and substance abuse <br />have far -reaching health and economic impacts. Addressing these problems will take a <br />fully engaged and active presence by all organizations serving these clients. The Board <br />of Health will address this issue through two focus areas: <br /> <br />1) Serve as a catalyst and advocate for policies and practices that promote <br />integrated care in the Orange County Health Department and other medical <br />providers in the county. <br />2) Advocate for and pursue policies, practices, and partnerships that improve <br />substance abuse and mental health services in Orange County, especially to <br />vulnerable populations such as the homeless and those connected with the <br />criminal justice system. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Action Steps <br /> <br />Focus Area #1: Serve as a catalyst and advocate for policies and practices that <br />promote integrated care in the Orange County Health Department and other <br />medical providers in the county. <br /> <br />1) By January 2017, the Board will receive report on progress of OCHD’s integrated <br />behavioral care program. The Board will also share this report with the Board of County <br />Commissioners. <br />2) By June 2017, Health Department staff will investigate reimbursement barriers for <br />primary care providers to provide and bill for Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral <br />to Treatment (SBIRT), telephone and face-to-face consultation with behavioral health <br />providers, and care provided by a behavioral health and primary care provider on the <br />same day in the same clinic. <br />3) Based on the lessons learned from 1) and 2), the Health Department will provide a <br />presentation/training on strategies for implementation, possibly at the annual Orange <br />County Provider breakfast, together with partners such as the NC Center of Excellence <br />for Integrated Care and UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health by April <br />2018. <br /> <br />