One way that Allegheny County promotes the provision of high quality behavioral health services is through value-based contracting (VBC), which pays providers of behavioral health services based on quality of care rather than quantity of care. This type of contracting can reduce system costs while also providing financial incentives for high-performing providers. The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (PA DHS) has implemented a series of VBC requirements for the Medicaid-funded behavioral health program statewide. This report outlines these requirements, highlights Allegheny County’s various VBC initiatives, and discusses next steps.
