A bi-weekly newsletter from your physician organization to keep you informed of today's healthcare news

Primary care physicians and practice teams are increasingly on the front lines of behavioral health care. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services revealed that 24.1% of Michigan adults report being diagnosed with a depressive disorder by a health professional, highlighting how

frequently behavioral health concerns present in the primary care setting.

Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is an evidence-based, team-based model that integrates behavioral health services directly into primary care. Rather than relying solely on external referrals, CoCM embeds behavioral health expertise within the practice team. Under this model, the primary care provider works alongside a behavioral health clinician and a psychiatric consultant to deliver coordinated care.

Patients are screened and identified within primary care, enrolled in the program when appropriate, and monitored over time using measurement-based care. This more direct outreach for behavioral health concerns has been shown to better support patients through improved treatment adherence, better symptom management, and reducing barriers to treatment (fragmented care, reduced wait time for follow up appointments, etc.).

How practices benefit with CoCM

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) has made significant changes to eligibility and nomination processes for CoCM. Primary care practices that prepare now to join CoCM will be better prepared for success in 2027. 

Primary care practices interested in earning a value-based reimbursement (VBR) for Collaborative Care Management (CoCM) in 2027 must be nominated by their physician organization in spring 2027. If designated by BCBSM, the VBR will start Sept. 1, 2027. 

Practices may earn:

Support for collaborative care efforts

The Physician Alliance is working with Janus Healthcare Partners to support primary care practices with Collaborative Care (CoCM). Janus provides a turnkey Collaborative Care program designed to support private practices in implementing and sustaining CoCM.

The organization partners with practices to extend the reach of primary care teams by providing Michigan licensed clinical staff, a proprietary clinical platform, and a structured implementation roadmap.

Working with Janus:

• There are no upfront costs to work with Janus. The company receives a percentage of the claims revenue while practices maintain all VBR incentives earned.
• Practices can provide Janus with read-only access to their EMR. No changes will be made to patient data within the EMR. Janus utilizes their own custom-built clinical platform that feeds information to providers and practice staff.

Required Training

Physicians and their practice office managers/staff interested in being nominated to participate in CoCM in 2027 and receive a value-based reimbursement MUST attend a live webinar hosted by PRISM (BCBSM's vendor managing the program). You cannot be nominated for CoCM if your practice doesn't attend a training.

2026 training dates: Sept. 15 & 17, 8am-4pm

Practice staff must attend both training dates; primary care physician champions only need to attend the first day of training from 8-11:45am. 

Get started

If you're interested in learning more about having collaborative care in your practice, please contact your practice resource team member.

If you're a private practice interested in learning how Janus can help implement your practice's CoCM program, please contact Nicholas Tcherepnin, Janus co-founder and CEO, at nick@janushcp.com or 917-400-5072

Diabetes management metrics have room for improvement among The Physician Alliance practices. These HEDIS measures help improve patient health and also practice quality metrics tying into value-based reimbursement.

Running a gaps in care report on patients with diabetes can identify those needing appointments and follow up care. Outreach to these patients through phone calls, secure text messages, patient portal alerts, and letters help remind them to prioritize their care.

The following diabetes management materials are also available at no cost to The Physician Alliance members. Click a link below or check out the Learning Institute tab on our website for additional resources.

Diabetes management resources:

• 6 ways to manage your diabetes poster
• 7 tips for lowering diabetes risk poster
• Diabetic eye exam poster
• Diabetic eye exam prescription form
• Patient diabetes self management form
• Patient diabetes action plan form
• Understanding diabetic retinopathy infographic poster
• Social media graphics promoting diabetes management and retinal eye exams
• Coding tip sheets

How current is your practice on Michigan's medical waste requirements? Regulated medical waste and Sharps handling fall under strict oversight from the Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act and MIOSHA.

Four areas tend to trip up practices most often: exposure control planning, sharps container standards, injury logging, and staff training.

It's worth taking a fresh look at your procedures and making sure new staff are properly trained.

1. Exposure Control Plans (ECPs)

Under the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR 1910.1030), enforced in Michigan through MIOSHA Part 554, every practice with employees who may contact blood or other potentially infectious materials must maintain a written Exposure Control Plan. The ECP must be reviewed and updated at least annually, and whenever new positions, procedures, or exposure risks are introduced. A stale ECP is one of the most common findings in MIOSHA inspections.

2. Sharps Container Placement

Sharps containers must be located as close as feasible to the immediate area where Sharps are used, not in a shared hallway or supply closet down the unit. This is one of the most common findings in MIOSHA inspections. Exam rooms, procedure areas, and treatment stations typically need their own container within easy reach of staff.

3. Sharps Injury Log

Practices with employees exposed to Sharps injuries must maintain a Sharps Injury Log documenting the device type and brand, department, and a description of each incident. This log must be kept confidential and retained for a minimum of five years, per OSHA recordkeeping requirements.

4. Employee Training Certificates

Employees with occupational exposure must receive bloodborne pathogens training at initial assignment, then annually thereafter. Training records and certificates should be retained and readily available for review.

Separately, staff who handle packaging or shipping of regulated medical waste are DOT hazmat employees under 49 CFR Part 172, Subpart H, and must complete DOT medical waste training every three years.

Source: Superior Medical Waste Disposal, one of TPA's Affiliate Partners, helps practices stay compliant. For questions on compliance or a complimentary compliance audit, email compliance@superiorwastedisposal.com. Call Gerald Belanger at (734) 656-8843 for more information on TPA special discounts.

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