The groundbreaking care model expanded from 5 to 15+ clinic locations to achieve 15% patient penetration rate, exceeding national benchmarks

SALT LAKE CITY, UT — August 12, 2025 – Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its groundbreaking Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Program, which has transformed mental health care delivery across Utah’s primary care and specialty clinics. Prior to the program’s launch in 2015, 41% of primary care patients had an accompanying mental health diagnosis; however, many patients faced barriers as behavioral health care was typically referred to community providers with long wait lists, limited reimbursement, and contractual carve-outs.

Since its inception, the BHI Program has expanded from 5 to more than 15 clinics and now achieves a 15% penetration rate—meaning that 15% of all primary care patients annually receive integrated behavioral health care. Through innovative clinical practices, embedded social workers see six times more unique patients per year than traditional outpatient behavioral health settings, significantly improving access and outcomes. The dramatic reduction in wait times—from 74 days for traditional outpatient mental health services to an average of just 10 days from referral to appointment—demonstrates the power of the program’s innovative approach.

The BHI Program uses collaborative best practices to promote self-determination, self-empowerment, and integrated medicine through partnerships between medical healthcare providers, behavioral healthcare providers, and the community. It embeds licensed social workers directly into medical clinics, providing immediate mental health support alongside primary care services. This innovative “warm hand-off” model eliminates traditional barriers to mental health care, offering patients same-day access to behavioral health services.