How Encouraging Provider Collaboration and Financial Incentives Can Improve Outcomes for Persons With Severe Psychiatric Disorders.

This Open Forum addresses the challenging situation involving decisions about when to hospitalize patients for psychiatric care. Because the evidence base for when to hospitalize patients is incomplete, current practice is to hospitalize only patients who are in crisis. This Open Forum provides a suggested set of payment options that can provide financial incentives to change practice patterns and lead to better clinical outcomes.