Assessing the Legacy of a Legislative Workgroup for Bidirectional Integration of Services

Across the USA, health care systems are recognizing the value of integrating behavioral health services and primary care. The Texas Legislature took a unique approach to integration, passing legislation creating a Workgroup to explore key issues, identify best practices, and recommend policy and practice changes. This article situates the Workgroup in a rapidly evolving policy environment, describing the passage of integrated health care legislation in Texas, the Integration of Health and Behavioral Health Services Workgroup that was created by the legislation, and the policy recommendations that emerged from the Workgroup. The article analyzes how the Workgroup process intersected with a changing policy environment in Texas and nationally, opening the door for essential collaboration and partnership. The Workgroup ultimately laid the groundwork for integration's key role in a comprehensive Medicaid transformation waiver designed to expand access, improve population health and satisfaction with treatment, while better managing costs.