Carelon: Leverage technology for consumer-centered, integrated health care.

Carelon CIO Jack Brock says the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated access and demand for behavioral health and that technology and interoperability are helping integrate behavioral and physical health. He emphasizes keeping the consumer at the center while addressing data sharing, workflow, and trust challenges.

Carelon CIO Jack Brock describes how technology and changing care models are reshaping behavioral health and why the consumer experience matters. He said the COVID-19 pandemic was a turning point that increased access, helped reduce stigma, and raised demand. Brock discussed virtual and hybrid models becoming mainstream and the growing emphasis on integrating behavioral health with primary care. He highlighted interoperability standards and the need to design systems that support consumers, clinicians, and other stakeholders. Key points: - Jack Brock, CIO of Carelon, said the pandemic increased access to behavioral health, reduced stigma, and contributed to higher demand. - Virtual and hybrid care models are described as increasingly mainstream, with consumers expecting seamless in-person, virtual, and blended options. - The article cites standards such as FHIR and programs like the 988 crisis lifeline as factors reshaping coordination and modernization. - Carelon reports using telehealth and digital engagement platforms to expand access, including in rural and underserved communities. - Noted challenges include change management, fragmented data sharing, complex regulatory frameworks, and the need to build trust and align people, processes, and workflows. - The article recommends mapping the full care journey, building for interoperability, piloting with defined populations, and making measurement of clinical and affordability outcomes central. Summary: Technology and integration are described as shifting behavioral health toward more accessible, consumer-centered care. The piece frames interoperability, collaborative care models, and measurable outcomes as central to that shift while noting organizational and regulatory challenges. The article reports that leaders are focusing on journey mapping, pilots, and outcomes measurement to guide transformation. Undetermined at this time.