Value-based care for behavioral health: A more measured approach to achieve true value

This perspective calls behavioral healthcare leaders and providers to inform the direction and pace of value-based care (VBC). We recommend taking time to refocus on care quality metrics before payment models to engage providers and match current behavioral health system conditions. We review VBC, reasons why VBC is unique in behavioral healthcare, and key questions about VBC in behavioral health. We also feature youth behavioral health as particularly underdeveloped for VBC at this time. Finally, we propose a more gradual and inclusive approach to VBC in behavioral health, drawing on principles of quality improvement science. A stakeholder engaged process informed by the provider and patient community to identify appropriate care quality metrics in the short term may more productively drive value and facilitate innovation in the longer term.