AUTHOR=Shore Jay H. , Waugh Maryann , Levey Shandra Brown , Calderone Jacqueline , Lyon Corey , Holtrop Jodi Summers , Gritz R. Mark , Owen Vanessa , McWilliams Shannon K. , deGruy Frank 

TITLE=Colorado integrated behavioral health plus (CIBH+): aligning behavioral health within a generalist approach to primary care

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1523369

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1523369

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=As healthcare costs and physician burnout in the U.S. escalate, and the acuity and prevalence of behavioral health issues hit historical highs, it is critically important that we continue to evolve care approaches that can deliver good health and well-being at the population level. Colorado Integrated Behavioral Health Plus (CIBH+) uses a whole-person health perspective, aligning psychologists, primary care physicians, and other specialists, within a generalist approach to primary care. Here, we document our local experience in services delivery, including the rationale for the CIBH+ approach, key implementation elements, and the ability to mitigate population, patient, and provider challenge by building upon existing clinically-and cost-effective models of integrated care. With this description, we hope to spark optimism, enthusiasm, and ongoing innovation in other multidisciplinary care teams seeking ways to improve patient and provider experience.