Collaborative Care Model
The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is an evidence-based behavioral health integration model designed to support primary care clinicians as they assess and treat patients with mild to moderate behavioral health conditions.
CoCM improves patient outcomes, increases satisfaction for both patients and providers, and reduces healthcare costs and stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders. The model complements other integrated models, including the North Carolina Psychiatric Access Line (NC-PAL).
In support of improving the lives of all North Carolinians, The North Carolina General Assembly has provided financial support to grow CoCM in North Carolina. For more information about CoCM, explore NC AHEC and the AIMS Center.
Starting April 1, 2025, Applications Open for Capacity Building Funding Phase 1 and Phase 2 Practices
The NC General Assembly has earmarked $5 million for capacity building for Medicaid-enrolled primary care practices across the state to adopt the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM).
The NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services is contracting with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to manage the program in partnership with North Carolina Area Health Education (NC AHEC) Center’s Practice Support coaching.
The capacity building fund has a maximum award of $50,000 per practice. A primary care practice entity applying on behalf of multiple primary care practice sites may receive a maximum of three awards per entity. Phase 1: Each clinic site may be eligible to receive awards of $50,000 to begin CoCM in-house. Phase 2: Additionally, $30,000 is available for practices to expand existing in-house CoCM and $20,000 is available to practice sites meeting Phase 1 eligibility, but planning to outsource staffing to a third-party, turn-key company.
For more information, please see CCNC’s website.
Work to Date
In January of 2022, NC Medicaid launched a Collaborative Care Model Consortium, which included leaders representing the primary care and psychiatric provider communities, payers and other community organizations with the goal of expanding the availability of integrated mental and primary care services in primary care clinics across the state, using the widely tested and clinically proven Collaborative Care model.
Examples of accomplishments include:
- Aligning coverage across all major payors
- Aligning requirements for billing
- Providing practice support through AHEC
- Providing free CoCM Registry access through CCNC
- Connecting interested primary care practices with trained psychiatric consultants
The consortium also recognized the need for reimbursement sustainability, and with the Medicaid rate increasing from 120% of 2022 Medicare FFS rates for CoCM codes, sustainability and adoption are more feasible than ever. Additionally, to reduce barriers to care, NC Medicaid and other commercial insurers have opted to remove copays for CoCM services, streamlining payment requirements for beneficiaries.
Resources
- The Collaborative Care Model in North Carolina: A Roadmap for Statewide Capacity Building to Integrate Physical and Behavioral Health Care (Dec. 8, 2023)
- NC Medicaid Enhancements to Integrated Physical and Behavioral Health Highlighting coverage, rate and resource changes in 2022 (Dec. 15, 2022)
- Coverage for Psychiatric Collaborative Care Management Updated Includes HCPCS Code G2214 and Revision to Definition of Behavioral Health Care Manager (March 18, 2022)
- NC AHEC (Technical Assistance)
- AIMS Center (General CoCM Information)
- North Carolina Psychiatric Association (Collaborative Care Education and Resource Guide)
- Community Care of North Carolina (AIMS Caseload Tracker and Capacity Building Funds)
- County Distress Rankings (Tiers)
For more information about becoming a CoCM practice, contact practicesupport@ncahec.net.
This page was last modified on 04/15/2025