The need for a measurement-based care professional practice guideline.

Professional practice guidelines (PPGs) are intended to promote a high level of professional practice and serve as an educational resource, providing pragmatic guidance in a clinical area for psychologists. Measurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based psychological practice with accumulating empirical support and alignment with patient-centered care. In connection with the American Psychological Association's Advisory Committee for Measurement-based Care and the Mental and Behavioral Health Registry, this article outlines various lines of support for the development and implementation of an MBC PPG. In addition to research evidence, we address the demonstrated need of this guideline across three domains: public benefit, professional guidance, and legal and regulatory issues. Consistent with the aspirational spirit of a PPG, this article proposes a draft PPG statement and highlights how an MBC PPG would improve service delivery, facilitate implementation of an evidence-based practice associated with symptom reduction, improved retention, and greater patient satisfaction, as well as create a framework that will better align changes in reimbursement models with patients' and providers' treatment goals. We also identify key future directions and critical gaps in MBC science and implementation that require attention. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Promoting measurement-based care and quality measure development: The APA mental and behavioral health registry initiative.

Measurement-based care has important implications across multiple avenues in mental and behavioral health care, including clinical care, quality improvement, and accountability. Using measurement-based care to demonstrate that quality care is being provided within the context of cost-efficient care could strengthen the position of mental and behavioral health providers as critical members of the health care system. Yet when measurement-based care is used to assess performance of providers, and then that performance influences reimbursement, it must be done with great care and deliberation so as not to result in unintended consequences such as punishing providers. Given psychology's expertise in measurement, the American Psychological Association (APA) and its members are uniquely suited to be leaders in promoting measurement-based care to assess quality and value. In this policy analysis paper, we examine the importance of measurement-based behavioral and mental health care across a variety of public service populations. We describe the increased federal regulatory focus on promoting quality and cost efficient care, the importance of defining and measuring quality care, and introduce an important resource being developed by APA to promote provider engagement in measurement-based care and effective participation in payment reform efforts in health care. We conclude with specific recommendations for how the field can move forward with using measurement-based care to assess accountability. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).