The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law released a set of eight briefs on the topic of integrating mental health services into primary care as part of health care reform.  The briefs offer policy recommendations to facilitate that integration, including suggestions to improve care for those with severe mental illnesses, the role of federal health programs, and consumer issues. 

From the report: Many of the areas where overall health policy needs to improve—expanded access, greater emphasis on prevention, early intervention, management of chronic illness, improved quality of care and increased use of technology—are also areas where mental health policy needs improvement. It is therefore important that mental health issues be addressed within healthcare reform. In fact, reforms should focus specifically on how to better integrate mental health with health. 

Full report 1: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xvAXDK-UShQ%3d&tabid=104

Full report 2: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ThMoBkv03C0%3d&tabid=104

Full report 3: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=3WEQq_gGOQE%3d&tabid=104 

Full report 4: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-nkPrs2EWCQ%3d&tabid=104

Full report 5: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6jwuCvxt0Ik%3d&tabid=104

Full report 6: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=XedaenLPJWs%3d&tabid=104

Full report 7: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=UX9Oj_6er9k%3d&tabid=104

Full report 8: http://www.bazelon.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=xvAXDK-UShQ%3d&tabid=104

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.  (2010).  Set of 8 issue briefs on integration of mental health in health care reform.