Online Referral
Resource Directory
Partner Login-In
About Us
TeamCareersGovernance
Our Work
Community HubConnect2 TechnologyCommunity Care NetworkCommunity Care Network OpportunitiesCommunity and Tribal Innovations
About UsTeamCareersGovernanceOur WorkCommunity HubConnect2 TechnologyCommunity Care NetworkCommunity Care Network OpportunityCommunity and Tribal InnovationsOur NetworkEquityNews & ResourcesConnect
Burger menu
Network in Action

Washington Integrated Care Assessment (WA-ICA) Analysis and Findings

June 18, 2024
March 21, 2024

HealthierHere is excited to share the findings from the Washington Integrated Care Assessment (WA-ICA). This assessment is key to understanding the barriers and supports needed to integrate behavioral health care and primary care. Read on to learn more about the WA-ICA,  HealthierHere’s work analyzing the results, next steps, and to access the reports.  

What is integrated care?

Integrated care combines efforts across various health professions to ensure a comprehensive care continuum for a patient across their lifetime. For example, by equally integrating behavioral health services into primary care services (and vice versa), patients receive better whole person care. According to UW School of Nursing, whole person care “addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual dimensions of the person to relieve suffering and promote healing in acute and chronic illness.” It is therefore important to advance integrated care further across sectors, and to continually assess and address barriers to achieving integrated care.  

What is the Washington Integrated Care Assessment (WA-ICA)?

The Washington Integrated Care Assessment is an assessment framework for Behavioral Health (BH) and Primary Care (PC) providers across Washington State to assess their current level of BH-PC integration and readiness to integrate further. It comprises both quantitative (characteristic) and qualitative (narrative) questions, and has been adapted from the work of Dr. Henry Chung and the framework for Continuum-Based Behavioral Health Integration and General Health Integration in Behavioral Health Settings. The assessment was completed between July-August 2022 by 126 BH sites and 79 PC sites across Washington state.

HealthierHere’s work with the WA-ICA

From December 2022-June 2023, HealthierHere collaborated with UW MPH student Lindsey McClellan on her master’s capstone project, supervised by HealthierHere's Data Analytics Manager Heeju Suh. McClellan analyzed the WA-ICA's over 1300 qualitative (narrative) responses and ranked these often complex and interdependent themes by frequency using Tableau. Lindsey’s analysis provides insight into the current state of integrated care and what supports are needed to better provide integrated care in Washington.  

Assessment Findings from the Reports

On a statewide and regional level, most behavioral sites are in earlier stages of integration compared to primary care sites. Primary care sites with an intermediate or more advanced stage of integration readiness are more strongly poised for further integration. Barriers to primary care integration included workforce shortages, and financial strain.

In King County, the biggest barriers to integration readiness at behavioral health sites include the need for billing and receiving reimbursement for immunizations, screenings, and treatments. Zero behavioral health sites surveyed in Cohort 1 bill for these services. Behavioral health sites cited workforce shortages, limited functionality in electronic health records (EHR) systems, financial strain, and lack of population health tools (such as electronic referrals and shared care plans) as the biggest barriers to integration.  

What’s next?

Now that key opportunities for advancing integration have been identified for Washington State, the next step is to call on wide-reaching bodies, including health systems, funders, government entities, and other oversight organizations and associations  to develop tailored training and assistance for behavioral and primary care providers. We hope that the findings from these reports serve as a resource for building pathways to improve integrated care across the state.  

For more information, please contact the WA-ICA at IntegratedCareAssessment@hca.wa.gov

‍

Report Links:

Statewide Reports:

Qualitative Reports

Statewide Qualitative Analysis/Report – Barriers and Facilitators ‍

Statewide Qualitative Data Visual - Themes, Cited Frequency, and Examples

Quantitative Reports

Statewide Baseline Quantitative Report - Behavioral Health ‍

Statewide Baseline Quantitative Report – Primary Care

‍

HealthierHere Reports:

HealthierHere Regional Quantitative Baseline Report – Behavioral Health

HealthierHere Regional Quantitative Baseline Report – Primary Care

‍


Network in Action
Learnings - Reports
About HealthierHere
HealthierHere is a non-profit collaborative working to eliminate health disparities in King County, WA, through collective action.
Search
Find the information you are looking for.
Newsletter
Sign-up for our newsletter and stay connected with us.
Subscribe
Contact Us
206.413.7748
info@healthierhere.org
P.O. Box 99115
Seattle, WA 98139-0115
Social
/>
Copyright ©HealthierHere 2022. All rights reserved.
Site Map
Privacy PolicyTerms & Conditions
X
Opt-out Preferences

We use third-party cookies that help us analyse how you use this website, store your preferences, and provide the content and advertisements that are relevant to you. However, you can opt out of these cookies by checking "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" and clicking the "Save My Preferences" button. Once you opt out, you can opt in again at any time by unchecking "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" and clicking the "Save My Preferences" button. More info.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
CancelSave Preferences
X

Cookie Settings

We take the security and privacy of our users seriously. This policy outlines the measures we take to protect data and personal information and ensure a safe browsing experience. More info.

PreferencesRejectAccept
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
X
X
We use cookies and access non-sensitive information from your device to enhance and personalize ads and content across this website. You can choose to accept all or some of these operations. More info.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
CancelSave preferences
X
We value your privacy

This website or its third-party tools process personal data. You can opt out of the sale of your personal information by clicking on the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” link. More info.

Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information