This year’s Behavioral Health Tech in Phoenix brought together health plans, employers, behavioral health providers, digital health companies, investors and policy makers committed to solving the critical care accessibility challenges facing the behavioral health industry. At the conference, Lucet’s President & CEO Shana Hoffman and VP of Clinical Strategy Liz Jones were invited to delve deeper into these challenges and potential solutions on panels with other forward-thinking behavioral health leaders. Here are some key takeaways from those discussions.
Accelerating Measurement-Informed Care: Stakeholder Adoption with VP of Clinical Strategy Liz Jones
A major conference focus was the drive toward measurement-informed care (MIC) as a pathway to achieving improved outcomes in behavioral health. During a panel moderated by Grow Therapy’s Dr. Cynthia Grant, Liz Jones joined Ann O’Grady (Independence Blue Cross), Doug Henry (Highmark), and Paul Giger (Providence Health Plan) to discuss the importance of adopting MIC and the need for providers to embrace it as a central part of care delivery.
Regarding value-based care, Henry reflected, “Without demonstrating quality outcomes, value-based models will struggle.” His point was well taken, as MIC is central to gauging the effectiveness of care — enabling providers to measure outcomes and make data-driven adjustments that improve patient health.
Panelists agreed that MIC’s success depends on provider buy-in, noting that many providers see MIC as a burden. However, Giger acknowledged a growing shift, stating that “measurement is becoming table stakes” across behavioral health. Those who resist MIC may be left behind as standards for quality care evolve.
“Measurement-informed care should be seen as high engagement, not just a requirement.”
Liz Jones – Vice President of Clinical Strategy
Pointing to a statistic that shows that 75% of outcomes improve with measurement-informed care, O’Grady emphasized that “patients experience better outcomes and higher engagement when MIC is implemented effectively.” Jones talked about the value of MIC in cultivating a collaborative relationship between provider and patient.
“Measurement-informed care should be seen as high engagement, not just a requirement,” she said, stressing that providers who connect with patients on progress experience better outcomes.
Overcoming adoption barriers
However, adoption challenges persist, especially among solo practitioners who often lack resources such as sophisticated EHRs or analytics tools. In response, Lucet and others have begun offering these smaller practices access to platforms that seamlessly integrate with their workflow without requiring an administrative team — a solution that promotes broader adoption. One of the most transformative aspects of MIC is data generation. With a focus on benchmarking and data-driven insights, behavioral health organizations are beginning to identify “what good looks like” in behavioral care.
Jones added that parity legislation continues to influence care expectations. MIC data allows for contract structures that support providers demonstrating real outcomes. This movement away from measuring only utilization and toward real-world impact could reshape how payers evaluate and support behavioral health providers, enhancing care quality across the board.
Member Health Benefit Design & Developing Member Journeys with President & CEO Shana Hoffman
Benefit design also took center stage, with panelists Shana Hoffman, Anjlee Joshi (The National Council for Mental Wellbeing), Dr. Katherine Hobbs (Author Health), and Patty Gibson (Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield) discussing the importance of tailored member journeys. Behavioral health is complex and nuanced, something many payers are just beginning to embrace. Dr. Hobbs emphasized that payers should build personas based on the diverse needs of sub-populations, such as adolescents or individuals with substance use disorders. The goal is to align behavioral health benefits with physical health, enabling a holistic approach to care.
Hoffman offered insights on how partnerships with organizations specializing in behavioral health can support operationalization. “Behavioral health is a force multiplier on medical expense,” Hoffman said, adding that showing the financial benefits of behavioral health improvements can support efforts to secure payer buy-in. This helps payers see the value of aligning behavioral health investments with medical cost reduction.
Panelists addressed the impact of technology on scaling behavioral health services by highlighting the potential of telehealth and on-the-ground support to expand access, ensuring patients receive care where and when they need it most. This strategy can be particularly beneficial in rural areas or for populations with limited access.
“People with potential behavioral health needs often won’t present in behavioral health. They will present in primary care, which can act as a ‘mousetrap’ to catch those members.”
Shana Hoffman – President & CEO
Generating demand and engaging patients
Beyond infrastructure and adoption, the discussion covered how to meet behavioral resource demand and engage members who may not initially seek behavioral health support. Dr. Hobbs pointed out that asynchronous care models can help catch patients when they are most open to receiving care, such as during late-night hours when feelings of distress often arise. Hoffman noted that primary care can capture patients’ needs early and direct them toward appropriate support.
“People with potential behavioral health needs often won’t present in behavioral health. They will present in primary care, which can act as a ‘mousetrap’ to catch those members,” she said.
As the session concluded, a clear message emerged: we must continue investing in accessible MIC models. Partnerships and technology are critical to transforming behavioral health, but so is collaboration. Behavioral health leaders must work closely with primary care providers, behavioral health organizations and patients to create integrated systems that seamlessly deliver care.
Rachel Jenkins is a senior marketing specialist at Lucet, The Behavioral Health Optimization Company.
