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March – April 2021
A message from Dr. Amy McKenzie, associate chief medical officer
Behavioral health website provides resources, emphasizes importance of whole-person health
 I’m pleased to share with you that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan recently launched a new behavioral health site to help our members who are struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. I encourage you to visit the site at bcbsm.com/mentalhealth and let your patients know about it. The site presents a wide array of information in an easy-to-navigate, engaging way. Information includes:
- Mental and behavioral health resources (both in person and virtual) and how to access them
- Some of the resources highlighted are the Behavioral Health Access Line, Substance Use Hotline, the Blue Cross member account and how it can be used to help find a mental health provider, Blue Cross Online Visits℠ and Blue Cross Virtual Well-Being℠ webinars.
- Statistics about mental health and mental health stigma
- Well-being support
- Links to our blogs on MI Blues Perspectives and A Healthier Michigan
Throughout the site, we’ve worked to keep the tone relatable, inviting and inclusive so that any member, whether they’re experiencing stress or have an underlying or diagnosed behavioral health condition, can find the information and care they need. While targeted to our members, non-Blue Cross members will find useful information as well.
The site is a key part of a larger campaign to reach out to our members who may be confused about the mental health services available to them and how to access those resources. The campaign also includes emails, direct mail pieces and social media posts. These efforts underscore our continued commitment to whole-person health, behavioral health integration and the role that behavioral health plays in overall wellness.
Over the next few months, we’re putting increased focus on combatting mental health stigma, one of the key barriers to your patients receiving needed behavioral health support. We’re hoping that the website, along with related member communications, will help normalize the act of asking for help.
Behavioral health integration
Our new website is another tool you can use to educate your patients about the important role behavioral health plays in overall health. It lets them know about the wide array of behavioral and mental health care options available and helps to streamline the process of obtaining care.
Over the past several years, Blue Cross has focused on the importance of integrating behavioral health with general medical care. As part of that effort, we’re expanding the use of the Collaborative Care Model, as you may have read in an article in the October issue of The Record. This integrated behavioral care model allows a primary care physician to more effectively treat patients with behavioral health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
If you’d like to learn more about this primary care provider-based model, check out our Collaborative Care Model Fact Sheet, located on the Behavioral Health section of the Clinical Criteria and Resources page of web-DENIS. And be sure to contact your physician organization if you’re interested in receiving training, support and incentives to implement the model.
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