Written by Partnerships Interns, Alison Hayden and Meghan Rakowski
In late February, C-TAC hosted a virtual Member Meet-Up discussing serious mental illness (SMI) and its intersection with the seriously ill patient population.
The Meet-Up featured C–TAC Strategic Advisor Torrie Fields, and SVP of Patient Access at COMPASS Pathways, Dr. Steve Levine. As a board-certified psychiatrist and co-founder/chairman of the Board of Heading Health, Dr. Levine brought an array of expertise to the meet-up. Key guiding questions for the discussion included:
- What could the transformation of advanced care look like for patients and caregivers navigating serious mental illnesses?
- How can improving the experience of serious mental illness improve the experience of caregiving and serious illness diagnosis?
Working with Dr. Levine and COMPASS Pathways, a company focused on increasing evidence-based mental health care strategies, C-TAC created an inter-organizational dialogue around the importance of mental health and how it impacts the C-TAC member population.
The open discussion brought attention to a variety of important facets of Serious Mental Illness (SMI), such as the impact of diagnosis, how SMI can impact caregivers, collaborative care models, and treatment availability. The topic of SMI is a central theme seen by C-TAC as our coalition continues to grow. This month’s discussion emphasized that SMI and serious physical illness are often closely tied, and a combination of both can create further complications with treatment and emotional well-being. Also covered were the need for collaborative care models to address mental illness tied to serious illness, and the scarcity of resources available particularly in rural areas.
The efforts of COMPASS Pathways and emphasis on the importance of mental health align with C-TAC’s 2023 Policy Priorities, which at their core include improving the quality of life of those with serious illness. C-TAC uses our Core Principles for Care Models to lead policy initiatives, which includes an assessment of psychological needs. The Member Meet-Up stressed the importance of holistic care and measurement of such needs when considering advanced care, and what this may look like in the future. The collaboration of organizations is crucial in advancing such policy goals that promote comprehensive, representative care in the serious illness space.
If we identify that there is a need, and if we know that there is a gap, and if those who are interested in and responsible for caring for those with serious illness recognize that the un-identified and un-treated SMI hampers the efforts to care for the serious illness population, then perhaps that becomes a driver for policy that increases the capacity to meet those needs – developing training, new workforce, funding for programs, that can address these needs in the settings where they need to be delivered as examples…- Dr. Steve Levine
In addition to the discussion co-led by Dr. Levine and Torrie Fields, C-TAC members were invited to share their experiences and thoughts about serious mental illness in advanced care. One provider stressed the critical role Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) have played in their home-based primary care practice, providing behavioral health screening and counseling to home-bound patients that otherwise would not be able to access specialty care. Other members called for the importance of public awareness and de-stigmatization, and the complexities of caregiving in multi-generational homes where both serious illness and SMI are present.
The Member Meet-Ups are valuable opportunities for our coalition to connect and collaborate on these key needs and challenges. Sharing her reflections on the meet-up, Dr. Emily Jaffe, VP and Executive and Medical Director for Highmark Health Home and Community Care noted:
The C-TAC meet-ups present a great opportunity to hear from colleagues and experts about issues that are critical to the care of people with serious illness. The most recent meet-up, ‘Getting Serious About Mental Illness’ delved into many of the complexities at the intersection of serious illness and serious mental illness. The group discussed implications for caretakers, caregiving, and managing SMI during this vulnerable time. Framing ‘psychological distress’ as a symptom is critical to ensuring high-quality of care to people living the last part of their lives. I find the meetups sparks ideas and partnership that help design care for both patients and members.
C-TAC is always grateful for our member organizations coming together and discussing initiatives concerning care for those with serious illness. Exclusive member events provide a valuable opportunity for organizations to connect and collaborate on key needs and challenges, such as SMI.
For more information on our Member Meet-Ups and COMPASS Pathways, contact C-TAC Partnership Associate Director, Luke Scuitto at lscuitto@thectac.org.
