D21 - CMS's Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model: An Overview, Lessons Learned and Best Practices

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 1B

The Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model is a state-based model that leverages patients’ relationships with specialty behavioral health practices to provide whole-person, integrated care that better addresses their behavioral, mental, and physical health. The model is designed to serve people with Medicaid, Medicare, and dually eligible beneficiaries. This session will provide an overview of the model from the clinic perspective and the impact the model hopes to have on clinics; share lessons learned from pre-implementation from clinic perspective; and best practices for clinics engaging with states to prepare a response to the live cohort 2 NOFO and generally best practices for relationship building and engagement throughout the model.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the core components of the IBH model and the impact the model will have.
Explore lessons learned from clinics during the pre-implementation phase including engaging with states, capacity building and infrastructure needs.
Examine best practices that will be helpful for states preparing for cohort 2 and relationship building and engagement.

Disclosure(s):

Karin E. Bleeg, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Karin E. Bleeg, MPH

Director, Division of Health Innovation & Integration
Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation | CMS
Rockville, Maryland

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
Robert Myers, PhD

Integrated Care Advisor
NYS Department of Mental Health

Disclosure information not submitted.
Andrea Wanat, MA

Chief Executive Officer
Value Network IPA and Value Network Inc.

Disclosure information not submitted.
Beth Ann Meints, LPC

Administrator of Clinical Services
Integrated Services of Kalamazoo

Disclosure information not submitted.
Leah Julian

Innovation in Behavioral Health Specialist
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

Disclosure information not submitted.
Grace Feldman, MPH

Project Director
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Washington, District of Columbia

Disclosure information not submitted.