The APA’s Position Statement enunciates ten principles. These are presented below along with their supporting background information.

The first principle declares that the predominant goals for behavioral health APMs should be defined as increasing access and improving quality of care for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUDs), in order to improve outcomes.

From the outset, there needs to be a fresh, new approach for developing and evaluating alternative payment models for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUDs). Behavioral health APMs should be required to meet the fundamental goals of improving access to care, and ensuring high standards of care, for individuals with MH/SUDs. Reining in costs is a laudable goal, but models that only do this are not meeting the needs of this population.