Quality behavioral health care isn’t always accessible, especially in rural or underserved communities. Too many patients face long waits and limited options, or no options at all. That’s why Concert Health and Animo Sano Psychiatry are proud to partner on two major initiatives that bring behavioral health support directly into primary care. We believe better care starts with stronger connections. Together, we’re working to make sure more patients can get the care they need, when they need it.
Building on Strong Foundations
One of these efforts is the PCORI Implementation Project. Funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, this project is focused on expanding Collaborative Care for patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder.
The project builds directly on the success of the SPIRIT trial (2016–2020), which showed that Collaborative Care could significantly improve outcomes. Now, with the University of Washington AIMS Center leading the research, and spanning six organizations—including CommonSpirit, Med First, Mercy, Nuvance Health, Sun River Health, and Tucson Medical Center—this work is scaling across more than 160 sites in nine states. By 2026, the program is expected to reach more than 2,700 patients.
What excites us most is that this isn’t just about reaching more people. It’s also about making sure the model holds true to its roots, can be sustained over time, and brings greater equity to communities that have historically lacked adequate mental health resources.
Expanding Access through Telehealth
Alongside the PCORI project, Concert Health and Animo Sano Psychiatry are partnering up together through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Integration Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program (EB-TNP) initiative. This initiative focuses on providing Telehealth Behavioral Health care to Arizona, Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma—regions where many patients face significant barriers to behavioral health care. By using telehealth, we’re making it possible for more people in rural areas to connect with timely, evidence-based support.
The program shows how technology reshapes the patient experience. Together, our teams are embedding decision-support tools into electronic medical records, streamlining referral workflows, and improving how Collaborative Care can function in remote settings. Each of these changes makes it easier for patients to access support through their existing primary care providers.
Working Together to Advance the Field
By coordinating across our teams, we’re creating a system wherein patients don’t just get referred, they stay connected to care. These projects represent a step forward for Collaborative Care itself. Virna Little, PsyD, LCSW-r, is Co-Founder and Special Advisor at Concert Health. She explains how both the PCORI and HRSA initiatives demonstrate a broad, ongoing commitment:
“The PCORI implementation grant and HRSA behavioral health access grants are consistent with Concert Health efforts to expand and inform the field, specifically around Collaborative Care. Concert Health strives to be a leader in advancing and informing Collaborative Care, and these projects are two examples of advancing the field both clinically and operationally.”
Virna’s words echo what drives this partnership: a shared belief that Collaborative Care must be both scalable and sustainable, rooted in research but shaped by the realities of patient care. By working hand in hand, we’re not only supporting patients today; we’re helping set the course for how Collaborative Care grows in the future. These projects highlight how partnership can turn evidence into practice, and how innovation can create pathways to better health for thousands of people.
As these initiatives progress, they will generate valuable learnings and models for the behavioral health field, insights that we look forward to sharing in future updates. We’re excited to continue documenting how this work translates into impact, and to report back on the outcomes once the projects conclude.