Highly motivated providers who self-select for training

Unlike many other provider education programs, IEHP doesn’t recruit heavily for their scholarships. In fact, IEHP requires providers to apply through a rigorous recruitment process to ensure that only the most eager providers will enter the program. In addition, IEHP prioritizes providers from organizations that have historically shown interest and involvement in integrated behavioral health initiatives with IEHP or otherwise.

Providers in complex-care teams to bolster care coordination

One group the health plan does target are members of complex care management teams, such as physicians, PAs, and NPs who care for patients with comorbidities. This recruitment push follows a plan-wide effort toward increasing care coordination and integration.

Providers willing to commit to remain in-network for one year

IEHP requires fellows to remain in-network for one year following completion of the fellowship. These providers, who gain respected psychiatric knowledge in a small time frame, are too valuable to let slip out of network.

Tuition assistance and credits

The fellowship’s tuition is $15,500, placing it out of budget for many providers. This price tag, combined with the year-long, time-intensive nature of the fellowship would normally discourage enrollment. However, IEHP funds the entire tuition bill. In exchange for giving up their valuable time, PCPs can gain up to 45 continuing medical education (CME) hours for their work. Though the amount of annual CME required for a medical professional varies by state, 45 CME hours is generally worth two years of mandatory medical education. After leaving the fellowship, participants enter an alumni network for continued mentorship and free CME.

Hands-on learning and mentorship

Trainees use their time in the fellowship to master completing an efficient and evidence-based psychiatric interview in a busy primary care setting. Moreover, the program trains fellows to diagnose and treat common behavioral health conditions such as mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders. The fellowship relies on teaching sessions, case-based discussions, and small group mentoring sessions. In addition to learning this valuable knowledge themselves, fellows are trained to share their lessons with colleagues to further increase mental health care access and quality.

Core ideas of psychopharmacology 

Around the country, primary care providers, not psychiatrists, prescribe most psychotropic medication, even though many PCPs feel they lack adequate training. The fellowship teaches the fundamentals of psychopharmacology, including dosage and types of medications to prescribe, to help PCPs feel more comfortable with prescribing medications for behavioral health concerns.