What is Integrated Behavioral Health?
The Integrated Behavioral Health Consultants at Esperanza are licensed bilingual professionals who are located at each of our three locations and are an important part of your health care team. They can provide assessment, consultation, brief interventions, and referrals related to all aspects of behavioral health. Issues addressed may include stress management, depression, anxiety, substance use, insomnia, smoking cessation, grief, trauma, and coping with chronic illness. Integrated Behavioral Health services can help you understand and manage your physical, mental and emotional health.
How do I access behavioral health services at Esperanza?
f you are a primary care patient at Esperanza Health Center, you can request to see a behavioral health consultant when you come to your medical appointment, or your primary care physician may invite a behavioral health consultant to come into the room to meet with you during your visit. These consultations typically take about 20-30 minutes. You may also request a follow-up appointment with a behavioral health consultant without having a medical visit on the same day. Telehealth visits are available as well.
How is this different from traditional outpatient behavioral health services?
Traditional outpatient therapy uses a model of care where the client comes in for regularly scheduled therapy sessions with a counselor, and may meet with a psychiatrist who prescribes medications as well. Integrated Behavioral Health visits are part of a patients’ overall health care. They often take place in the exam room as part of the medical visit, and follow-ups can be scheduled as needed rather than on a specific schedule.
Sometimes your medical provider or behavioral health consultant may recommend that you see a therapist or psychiatrist in another setting for additional care or treatment. In this case, all members of the care team will continue to work with you as needed as part of your overall health care.
What if I need medication for depression or another mental health issue?
In some cases, our primary care providers may decide, in collaboration with you, to prescribe antidepressants or other medications to help manage behavioral health symptoms. In other cases, your primary care provider will recommend (or you may decide) to seek treatment with a psychiatrist outside of Esperanza for medication management.
What costs are involved for Behavioral Health services at Esperanza?
There is never an additional charge to see a Behavioral Health Consultant on the same day as a medical visit. If visits occur on a different day than your medical visit, copays may apply in some cases depending on your insurance.
Insurance: Everyone is welcome at Esperanza Health Center. We accept most forms of public and private health insurance. If you do not have insurance, we have staff who can help you determine if you qualify for assistance, and help you enroll in the program that best fits your needs. You will never be turned away because of inability to pay.
Community Behavioral Health Network
Esperanza Health Center is a proud member of the Community Behavioral Health (CBH) provider network. For Esperanza Health Center patients: If you are unhappy with the behavioral health services you have received from us, please call CBH at 1-888-545-2600 and speak with a Member Services Representative.
You will not incur a fee for filing complaints or grievances with CBH at any level of the process.