Becker’s Healthcare Podcast Expanding Access and Sustainability in Behavioral Health with Stephen Merz
Mar 3, 2026
Stephen Merz, VP and COO at Sheppard Pratt Solutions, leads efforts to expand behavioral health access and partner with health systems. He discusses stabilizing struggling programs and creating new capacity. He highlights linking mental and physical care, rapid-access strategies with a no-wrong-door approach, and scaling sustainable models nationwide.
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Turning Struggling Programs Into Sustainable Services
- Sheppard Pratt Solutions helped a 15-hospital system cut up to 90% of behavioral health losses by optimizing existing systems.
- They also partnered with Sparrow Health to add child/adolescent beds and broke ground with WakeMed on a new Mental Health and Wellbeing Campus.
Integrate Behavioral Care Into Complex Medical Pathways
- Do integrate behavioral and physical care by prioritizing high-acuity patients with comorbid medical and behavioral needs.
- Stephen Merz argues managing these patients improves outcomes and can reduce overall cost of care, making the business case for investment.
Use No Wrong Door Screening And Rapid Access
- Do implement no-wrong-door screening and rapid access pathways so every patient with behavioral needs is identified and can get timely care.
- Merz emphasizes screening (1 in 4 patients) and reducing insurance/acuity barriers to ensure treatment entry and better outcomes.