• 00:03 – Introduction to Matthew Stone and overview of episode
• 06:10 – Discussion on the increase in student mental health needs post-COVID
• 11:03 – Overview of federal grant shifts and funding uncertainty
• 14:07 – Impact of grant terminations on hiring and staffing
• 19:01 – Focus on school psychologists and narrowing of grants
• 25:38 – Implications for districts trying to fulfill local needs

• COVID's impact on student mental health
• Federal grant programs for school mental health
• Policy changes and administrative priorities
• Workforce challenges: counselors, social workers, and psychologists
• Local district strategies for sustaining services

• Student mental health needs have increased, exacerbated by COVID
• Policy changes and grant terminations create uncertainty for districts
• Narrowing grants to school psychologists may limit local flexibility
• States and districts are developing innovative strategies to meet needs
• Sustaining mental health services requires planning beyond federal funding

• "I think the focus on school psychologists has stumped a lot of people in the mental health world."
• "Schools are navigating unprecedented changes while trying to provide consistent support to students."

• KFF: The Landscape of School-Based Mental Health Services
• US House Press Release: Fitzpatrick Leads Bipartisan Coalition
• Education Week: Trump Admin Relaunches School Mental Health Grants

For this week's episode, I was excited to welcome Dr. Dylan Ross, PhD, LMFT, LPCC, Head of Clinical at Blueprint AI and a nationally recognized leader in behavioral healthcare, clinical innovation, and measurement-based care. Dr. Ross brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at Optum, Rogers Behavioral Health, and Kaiser Permanente, where he shaped clinical strategy, digital innovation, and measurement-informed care frameworks. He currently chairs the American Psychological Association's National Advisory Committee for Measurement-Based Care, guiding national strategy on standardized clinical measurement protocols.

In this conversation, Dr. Ross shares insights on measurement-based care (MBC), value-based care, and how AI can support clinicians without replacing clinical judgment. We discuss how integrating patient-reported outcomes into routine practice improves clinical efficiency, therapeutic alliance, and outcomes, while also addressing workforce challenges and administrative burden. He also highlights Blueprint's AI-driven tools that save clinicians time, enhance care delivery, and enable real-time insights to support patient care.

0:03 – Introduction to Dr. Dylan Ross, his background in behavioral health, and his current role at Blueprint AI
4:08 – Dr. Ross shares his career journey from Kaiser Permanente to Optum, Rogers Behavioral Health, and Blueprint AI
9:27 – Explaining measurement-based care (MBC): definition, benefits, and impact on treatment outcomes
16:02 – Adoption rates and challenges of MBC in behavioral health, including clinician and patient engagement
17:42 – Value-based care: evolution, payer perspectives, and how outcomes drive reimbursement
27:17 – How AI supports clinicians: reducing administrative burden, increasing MBC adoption, and providing real-time session insights
34:25 – Call to action for the behavioral health system: workforce preparedness, aligned incentives, and systemic improvements

• Value-Based Care: What It Is, and Why It's Needed — Commonwealth Fund

• Getting on Board with Measurement: Implementing Measurement-Informed Mental Health Care — Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

• AI in Behavioral Health Documentation: Ethical Considerations for Mental Health Clinicians — Blueprint AI Blog

• Website: Blueprint AI

• LinkedIn: Dylan Ross

• Website: The Mental Health Evolution

• Instagram: @thementalhealthevolution

• LinkedIn: The Mental Health Evolution

• Facebook: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Music by Zach Harrison

In this episode, Rachel talks to Dr. Jane Zhu, an internal medicine physician, health services researcher, and Associate Professor of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Zhu's work focuses on how ownership and financial structures shape healthcare delivery and equity — an increasingly important lens as private equity investment grows in behavioral health.

Rachel and Dr. Zhu explore her research on the geographic penetration of private equity ownership in outpatient and residential behavioral health, discussing the implications for access, quality, and clinician autonomy. They also dive into the broader trends of consolidation, policy oversight, and the transparency challenges that affect both patients and providers.

0:34 – Introduction to Dr. Zhu and her research focus
1:22 – Why private equity is expanding into behavioral health
3:08 – Key findings from Dr. Zhu's JAMA Psychiatry study
6:27 – Impacts on care quality, clinician autonomy, and patient access
9:52 – Policy and transparency implications for healthcare ownership
13:10 – Dr. Zhu's takeaway: balancing investment with public accountability

• Private Equity's Inroads into Mental Health Bring Concern – Psychiatry Online

• Geographic Penetration of Private Equity Ownership in Outpatient and Residential Behavioral Health – JAMA Psychiatry

Website: OHSU – Jane M. Zhu, MD, MPP, MSHP
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janemzhu

Website: The Mental Health Evolution
Instagram: @thementalhealthevolution
LinkedIn: The Mental Health Evolution
Facebook: The Mental Health Entrepreneur

Music by Zach Harrison