Patients for inclusion:

• Patients with an anxiety disorder diagnosis
• Patients who screen three or more on GAD-2 during a routine medical visit
• Active-duty patients who report anxiety/stress-related symptoms on the PHA/PDHRA
• Patients who are prescribed a psychotropic medication for anxiety

Patients with anxiety are appropriate for the PCBH setting when the BHC can address anxiety symptoms and functional impairment in about one to four appointments. BHCs implement evidence-based assessment and interventions to address patients’ anxiety via a self-management approach. For example, BHCs introduce strategies during appointments and collaboratively set goals for patients to incorporate the tools in their daily lives. Brief interventions include reducing the physical response to anxiety (e.g., physical exercise, relaxation strategies), challenging unhelpful thinking, and engaging in enjoying/distracting activity. BHCs inform the PCM about the nature of the selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations to the PCMH team after patient appointments. BHCs recommend referrals to other services as appropriate (e.g., specialty behavioral health). Changes in a patient’s symptoms/functioning may be assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure) and GAD-7 (Generalized Anxiety Disorder).

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients scoring 10 or more on the PHQ-9
• Patients with a new depression diagnosis
• Patients starting an antidepressant medication or a new antidepressant medication because the first medication was not adequately effective
• Patients not meeting HEDIS metrics for acute or continuation phase antidepressant medication treatment
• Patients on antidepressant medication who have not seen their PCM in over 12 months

BHCs implement evidence-based assessment and interventions for patients whose depressive symptoms and functional impairment can be addressed in approximately one to four appointments. After a completing a biopsychosocial functional assessment, a self-management approach to managing depression is implemented. There are numerous evidence-based interventions from which the BHC and patients can collaboratively select. Interventions include education about depression (e.g., relationship between biological and psychosocial factors of depressive symptoms) and the introduction of a daily mood record to better understand triggers and patterns of symptoms. Patients may also make a behavioral health plan to increase pleasurable and/or mastery activities, use problem solving strategies focusing on one specific area of concern, shift from overly negative thinking to more realistic or balanced thinking, and/or focus on medication adherence to manage depression. BHCs inform the PCM about the nature of the selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations to the PCMH team after patient appointments. BHCs may also recommend referrals to other services as appropriate (e.g., specialty behavioral health). Changes in a patient’s symptoms/functioning may be assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure) and PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire).

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients newly diagnosed with diabetes
• Patients with poor glucose control (defined as an HbA1c of 7 or greater)
• Diabetic patients with comorbid depression
• Diabetic patients with comorbid tobacco dependence
• Diabetic patients with comorbid hyperlipidemia, hypertension, or obesity

BHCs implement evidence-based assessment and interventions with patients. This may be short-term consultation (one to four appointments) or continuity consultation (more than four appointments with longer follow-up intervals) to manage diabetes.

BHCs and patients collaboratively select intervention(s) with consideration to comorbid mental health problems (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress) that impact diabetes management. Interventions include education about diabetes self-management, improving relevant health behaviors, and modifying unhelpful beliefs that negatively affect diabetes management. BHCs provide the PCM with the nature of selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations to the PCMH team after appointments with the patients. BHCs will also recommend referrals to other services as appropriate (e.g., weight management programs, comprehensive diabetes programs). Outcomes for patients with diabetes may be monitored by HbA1C blood test, BMI (Body Mass Index), and symptoms/functioning as assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure).

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater
• Patients with a diagnosis of obesity

BHCs implement evidenced-based assessment and interventions with patients to improve weight management. Patients are usually seen for one to four appointments. After initial appointments are complete, patients with obesity may benefit from continuity consultation where they are seen for additional appointments, spaced at longer intervals, to maintain the substantial behavior changes needed for weight loss.

There are numerous interventions that can be helpful for weight loss. BHCs and patients collaboratively select the intervention(s) that are most appropriate given the nature of the patient’s difficulties and readiness for change. Possible interventions include education on effective weight loss with a focus on eating and physical exercise, motivational interviewing to determine the importance and readiness to change, problem-solving potential barriers to change, goal setting for improved health behaviors, and instructions in use of a food and activity diary. BHCs may also recommend that patients be linked to other PCMH team members or external resources (e.g., nutrition, wellness). BHCs provide the PCM with the nature of the selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations to the PCMH team after patient appointments. Outcomes for patients with weight loss goals may be monitored by BMI, percentage of total weight lost, and symptoms/functioning as assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure).

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients with a diagnosis of a chronic pain condition (e.g., ankylosing spondylitis, costochondritis, fibromyalgia, complex regional pain syndrome, headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, chronic low back pain, degenerative disc disease, irritable bowel syndrome)
• Patients enrolled in the one-provider program (i.e., only one provider is prescribing narcotic medications)
• Patients who have signed a pain agreement
• Patients who have taken narcotic medications for a pain condition for three months or more

BHCs implement non-pharmacological evidence-based assessment and interventions related to chronic pain. This is typically conducted with short-term consultation (one to four appointments), but could extend to a continuity consultation (more than four appointments with longer follow-up intervals) if needed to manage the chronic condition. A self-management approach is used to increase patients’ engagement in daily activities and improve functioning. Interventions include providing education, using a pain diary, engaging in activity pacing, increasing valued activities, providing relaxation training, challenging unhelpful thinking related to chronic pain, and promoting adherence to pain mediation prescriptions as prescribed. BHCs provide the PCM with the nature of the selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations (e.g., referral to physical therapy or occupational therapy). Change in patient symptoms/functioning assessed by the BMH-20 (Behavioral Health Measure) and PEG (Pain, Enjoyment, General Activity) scale.

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients with a tobacco dependence diagnosis
• Patients identified as a current tobacco user

BHCs implement evidence-based assessment and intervention(s) with patients. Patients who benefit from short-term consultation are appropriate for the primary care behavioral health setting. The BHC performs a biopsychosocial functional assessment focused on tobacco cessation. The appointments then address tobacco use behaviors, as well as thoughts and emotions that initiate and maintain tobacco use. Appointments help prepare for the quit attempt, provide support on or before the quit date, promote maintenance, and provide relapse prevention. BHCs inform the PCM about the nature of the selected intervention(s) and plan, and offer recommendations to the PCMH team after patient appointments. Outcomes of patients who desire to quit tobacco use include the patient being a non-tobacco user six weeks after the quit date and changes in a patient’s symptoms/functioning as assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure).

Patients for inclusion:

• Patients with elevated scores on the AUDIT-C
• Patients scoring positive on the AUDIT-C per the above criteria and not currently seeing an BHC, in specialty behavioral health care, or in a specialty substance use program
• Patients previously diagnosed with an Alcohol Use Disorder as defined in the DSM-5 and not currently seeing a BHC, in specialty behavioral health care, or in a specialty substance use program

BHCs implement evidence-based assessment and intervention with patients whose levels of symptoms and functional impairment can be addressed in primary care. BHCs often see patients for one to four appointments with follow-up occurring every two to four weeks. However, the time between appointments will vary depending on the BHC’s assessment of the patient’s readiness to change, ability to successfully make changes with a self-management approach, and the nature of the intervention(s) selected. BHCs and patients collaboratively select interventions that are most appropriate given the nature of the patient’s difficulties and readiness for change. Interventions include self-monitoring of drinking habits and patterns, patient education on recommended drinking levels, motivational interviewing and problem solving to assist in limiting or abstaining from use, and reviewing ways to pace drinking (when patients are limiting alcohol consumption). BHCs recommend referrals to other services as appropriate (e.g., specialty behavioral health or specialty substance use program if patient is active duty and meets criteria for a substance use disorder). Changes in a patient’s symptoms/functioning may be assessed by the BHM-20 (Behavioral Health Measure) and AUDIT-C (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test).