On June 1, 2026, the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care (CHVHC) concluded its 2025–2026 Innovations in Health Care webinar series with “Collaborative Care Model: Innovations and Emerging Directions.” Matthew Hurford, MD, President and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization and Vice President of Behavioral Health at UPMC Insurance Services Division, moderated the session which explored how the Collaborative Care Model’s (CoCM) integrated, team-based approach supports whole-person care and highlighted its growing role in addressing behavioral health needs, workforce challenges, and a shift toward value-based care. Although the webinar was not recorded, the discussion offered valuable insights into the future of collaborative care.
CoCM: A High-Value Strategy for Behavioral Health Integration
CoCM is an evidence-based, team-based model that brings behavioral health support into primary care, where most patients already receive care. The model connects primary care providers (PCPs) with behavioral health care managers and psychiatric consultants to improve access to treatment, support earlier identification of behavioral health needs, and reduce reliance on specialty mental health care alone. This approach is especially relevant as health systems look for practical ways to address behavioral health workforce shortages and expand support for patients with both physical and behavioral health needs.
"CoCM brings behavioral health to the front door of care, improving access and supporting patients who may not otherwise engage in specialty care."
Alin Severance, MD, Medical Director of Behavioral Health Services, UPMC Health Plan and Associate Medical Director, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
The evidence base continues to grow. A systematic review of 30 studies found that CoCM reduced health care utilization, improved productivity, and generated an estimated return on investment of approximately 3:1.1 More recently, a systematic review and meta-analysis found that implementing CoCM in primary care settings significantly reduced suicidal behaviors among patients with depression or those at risk for suicide compared with usual care.2 Together, these findings highlight CoCM's potential to improve outcomes while lowering costs and expanding access to behavioral health care.
Learning Communities Can Help Accelerate CoCM Adoption
Scaling CoCM requires coordination among providers, health plans, researchers, and community partners. Through a learning community approach, the UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care convenes system-wide stakeholders to share experiences, identify barriers, and develop practical solutions that support CoCM adoption.
These discussions are focused on real-world barriers, including reimbursement, workforce capacity, behavioral health stigma, and rural access to care. They are also informing pilot programs, payer engagement strategies, implementation support, and technical assistance for practices interested in adopting or expanding CoCM. By creating a forum for shared problem-solving, learning communities can help organizations move from interest in CoCM to practical implementation.
"Learning communities help us move from concept to practice by aligning stakeholders and translating insights into action."
Jessica Meyers, MSEd, Senior Advisor of Implementation, UPMC Center for High-Value Health Care
“In my experience, PCPs are often relieved to know they don't have to manage behavioral health needs alone. CoCM equips them with additional resources and clinical support, helping improve patient care while reducing some of the strain that can contribute to provider burnout. CoCM has the potential to be an investment in both patient outcomes and the future of the primary care workforce.” Matthew Press, MD, MSc, Associate Professor of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Emerging Innovations in CoCM
As more health systems adopt CoCM, implementation teams are adapting it to meet today’s patient, workforce, and health system needs. Emerging applications at UPMC and other organizations extend beyond traditional primary care settings and behavioral health conditions, supporting integrated, whole-person care for individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.3,4,5,6,7,8,9 At the same time, telehealth, digital therapeutics, and advanced health IT tools are expanding the reach and efficiency of CoCM by enhancing screening, triage, care coordination, and population health management. These innovations can help health systems identify and engage high-need populations, optimize limited behavioral health resources, and support value-based care goals. To scale CoCM effectively, health systems need models that are grounded in evidence, workable for clinical teams, embedded in electronic health records, and financially sustainable over time. Combined with new reimbursement pathways and expanded clinical applications, these advances are positioning CoCM as a practical strategy for expanding access to behavioral health services, especially in rural and underserved communities.
"What excites me most is how Collaborative Care is being adapted to support whole-person health. Advances in technology, new clinical applications, and sustainable implementation strategies are helping bring effective, integrated care to more patients and communities than ever before."
Bruce Rollman, MD, MPH, MBA, Director, Center for Behavioral Health, Media, and Technology, and Professor of Medicine, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
What’s Next and How to Engage in CoCM?
The webinar concluded with a practical message: CoCM does not require a complete practice transformation. Simple steps such as incorporating PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screenings, leveraging existing referral pathways, and asking patients, “How is this affecting your mood, stress, or daily life?”, can help teams identify behavioral health needs and connect patients with support. As organizations expand CoCM, early collaboration among providers, payers, and community partners can help address barriers and support broader adoption
"Small changes in practice can build momentum for larger transformation toward whole-person care." Matthew Hurford, MD, President and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization and Vice President of Behavioral Health at UPMC Insurance Services Division
1Verughese Jacob, Sajal K. Chattopadhyay, Theresa Ann Sipe, Anilkrishna B. Thota, Guthrie J. Byard, Daniel P. Chapman, Economics of Collaborative Care for Management of Depressive Disorders: A Community Guide Systematic Review, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 42, Issue 5, 2012, Pages 539-549, ISSN 0749-3797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2012.01.011.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749379712000566)
2Ko W, Jeong H, Yim HW, Lee SY. Collaborative care interventions to reduce suicidal behavior among patients with depression or at risk of suicide in primary-care settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2025 Apr 1;374:141-149. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.01.012. Epub 2025 Jan 7. PMID: 39788378.
3Rollman, B. L., Muldoon, M. F., & Magnani, J. W. (2022). Four “E”s to speed adoption of mHealth and promote cardiovascular behavioral medicine. Manuscript. American Psychological Association PsycNet. [https://psycnet.apa.org/manuscript/2022-36261-001.pdf]
4Rollman, B. L., Herbeck Belnap, B., Abebe, K. Z., Spring, M. B., Rotondi, A. J., Rothenberger, S. D., & Karp, J. F. (2018). Effectiveness of online collaborative care for treating mood and anxiety disorders in primary care: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(1), 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2017.3379
5Katon, W. J., Lin, E. H. B., Von Korff, M., Ciechanowski, P., Ludman, E. J., Young, B., Peterson, D., Rutter, C. M., McGregor, M., & McCulloch, D. (2010). Collaborative care for patients with depression and chronic illnesses. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(27), 2611–2620. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa100395
6Rollman, B. L., Belnap, B. H., Mazumdar, S., Houck, P. R., Zhu, F., Gardner, W., Reynolds, C. F., & Schulberg, H. C. (2009). Telephone-delivered collaborative care for treating depression in patients with coronary heart disease: A randomized controlled trial (Bypassing the Blues). JAMA, 302(19), 2095–2103. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.1679
7Rollman, B. L., Anderson, A. M., Rothenberger, S. D., Abebe, K. Z., Ramani, R., Muldoon, M. F., Jakicic, J. M., Herbeck Belnap, B., & Karp, J. F. (2021). Efficacy of blended collaborative care for patients with heart failure and comorbid depression: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 181(10), 1369–1380. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.4978
8Jhamb M, Steel JL, Yabes JG, et al. Effects of Technology Assisted Stepped Collaborative Care Intervention to Improve Symptoms in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: The TĀCcare Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Intern Med. 2023;183(8):795–805. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.2215. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2806193
9Somani, S., Takhar, S., Miller, D., Camarillo, H., Zhu, M., & Tran, K. (2024). Compass Rose™ implementation in a large academic medical center. Exploratory Research in Clinical and Social Pharmacy.