Building a Stronger Behavioral Health Crisis System with Chris Santarsiero

At the Becker's Fall Behavioral Health Summit in Chicago, leaders from both large health systems and community mental health organizations gather to share insights and strategies rather than selling frameworks. The conference, set for November 4-5 at the Hyatt Regency, will feature over 30 speakers and more than 300 executive-level attendees, addressing issues from demonstrating behavioral health's value to managing high readmission risks post-discharge.

During a recent podcast, Chris Santisaro, Vice President of Government Affairs at Connections Health Solutions, discussed his role in transforming emergency behavioral health crisis care across the United States. His organization collaborates with counties, states, and insurers to enhance access to crisis care, operating in six states with plans to expand. Santisaro emphasized the inadequacies of current crisis responses, particularly reliance on emergency departments and jails, as inappropriate settings that often lead to poor health outcomes and high costs.

He highlighted the importance of establishing a comprehensive system for crisis care, which includes the introduction of the 988 crisis lifeline as a major step forward in normalizing help-seeking behavior and reducing stigma associated with mental health issues. The 988 service promotes immediate access to support and has catalyzed innovations in care delivery.

Santisaro noted significant challenges, particularly with reimbursement processes that hinder access to community-based crisis stabilization services, particularly under Medicare. He advocated for policy changes, like the Care for Behavioral Health Act, which aims to provide a sustainable funding model for these essential services.

The discussion underscored the critical need for collaboration among various stakeholders—including healthcare providers, community organizations, and government agencies—to create an integrated system of care that addresses the pressing needs of individuals in crisis. By improving reimbursement structures and expanding access to timely care, the aim is to foster better health outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs.

As policy momentum continues to build around mental health crisis care, Santisaro remains optimistic about the future of behavioral health, emphasizing that thoughtful investments in crisis services have the potential to transform the system, ultimately ensuring that individuals receive the support they need during vulnerable moments.

In this episode, Chris Santarsiero, Vice President of Government Affairs at Connections Health Solutions, discusses the policy, reimbursement, and community partnerships needed to expand access to behavioral health crisis care. He also shares how crisis stabilization centers, the 988 Lifeline, and coordinated care models are improving outcomes while reducing pressure on hospitals, law enforcement, and the broader healthcare system.