Playbook for Building a Behavioral Health Strategy and Continuum

As health systems face rising behavioral health (BH) needs, many are unsure where to begin—or how to expand—without compromising financial and operational stability. This session provides a strategic playbook to help health system leaders evaluate, design and launch scalable, sustainable behavioral health service lines that align with population needs and payer dynamics.

You will explore critical elements of BH strategy, including:

• The purpose and limits of behavioral health hospitals and inpatient psychiatric units


• Key staffing and operational models tailored by population and acuity


• How UM/CM and payers function in BH, and how to navigate authorization and LOS pressures


• The importance of consultative psychiatry, therapy and ancillary supports


• DSH and Medicaid implications of BH investments


• How to get the right mix of disciplines to fit your BH need


• Why a robust outpatient continuum—including psychiatry, psychotherapy and procedural capacity—is essential for cost control and outcomes

With patients who have comorbid BH conditions driving 2–3 times the total cost of care, and integrated BH models reducing ED visits by 30% and hospital admissions by 20%, health systems have an opportunity to achieve a 9–12% ROI within 24 months of targeted BH investment. You will receive a readiness checklist and strategic roadmap, as well as staffing templates to help guide implementation or expansion. You will leave with a framework for strategy design and investment prioritization that reflects both mission and margin—empowering your system to meet urgent needs while achieving sustainable ROI.