Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Episode: Dr. Matthew Hurford & Dr. Michael Lynch of UPMC

Date: September 7, 2025
Host: Jacob Emerson

Episode Overview

This episode features a conversation with Dr. Matthew Hurford, President and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health Organization and Vice President of Behavioral Services at UPMC Health Plan, and Dr. Michael Lynch, Senior Medical Director of Quality and Substance Use Disorder Services at UPMC Health Plan. The discussion centers on UPMC’s innovative approaches to behavioral and community health, integrating social and clinical care, expanding inpatient and outpatient capacity, leveraging telehealth, and prioritizing recovery and stigma reduction.

Guest Introductions and Roles

• Dr. Michael Lynch

  • Senior Medical Director for Quality and Substance Use Disorder Services at UPMC Health Plan
  • Triple board certified in emergency medicine, medical toxicology, and addiction medicine
  • Founded and directs a telemedicine bridge clinic to fill gaps in substance use care
  • Practices in multiple UPMC hospitals, predominantly in Pittsburgh
  • Offers telehealth addiction and toxicology services statewide
  • [00:43]

• Dr. Matthew Hurford

  • President & CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health
  • Vice President of Behavioral Health at UPMC Insurance Services
  • Board-certified psychiatrist, provides clinical and strategic oversight across UPMC's insurance products
  • Community Care Behavioral Health covers over 1 million Pennsylvanians’ Medicaid benefits in 43 counties
  • [01:41]

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Community Engagement and Neighborhood Centers

• New Erie Neighborhood Center

  • Modeled after a successful Pittsburgh location; part of UPMC’s mosaic of community support
  • Offers services beyond healthcare: food security, job navigation, assistance accessing health/human services
  • Open to all community members, not just UPMC-insured
  • Food Partnerships:
    • Collaboration with Second Harvest Food Pantry
    • Creation of "Second Harvest Marketplace" for healthy, free or low-cost food access
  • Over 50 partnerships with local organizations supplement direct services
  • Quote:
    • "Food really is medicine and there's so much more. Lots of opportunities for individualized understanding of what people and their families might need." (Dr. Hurford, 04:29)
  • [03:06–05:16]

• Community Integration

  • UPMC is committed to “being physically in the community... not just waiting for people to come to us.”
  • Pathways to Work and Freedom House 2.0: Education and training for long-term self-sufficiency
  • Quote:
    • "Health and well being don't only need to be addressed in the doctor's office, in the hospital or from the payer headquarters." (Dr. Lynch, 05:31)
  • [05:24–06:52]

Balancing Inpatient, Outpatient, and Recovery Supports

• Breaking Down Silos

  • Historical separation between physical and behavioral health is a barrier—UPMC aims for integration across the continuum of care
  • Emphasis on continuity and “web” or “net” of support for patients
  • Navigation complexities and fragmented systems are primary challenges; goal is to create “an easy and obvious pathway” through the system for every patient
  • Quote:
    • "The better we can connect those things... all with the patient at the center of that journey... hopefully prevent them from needing those more acute or urgent care kinds of services that we see at the hospital." (Dr. Lynch, 09:20)
  • [07:37–10:24]

• Lessons Learned from Investment

  • The safety net for behavioral health “is only as strong as its weakest portion.”
  • Non-clinical factors (food, transportation, safe housing) are vital—community partnerships are essential
  • High-quality hospital care is undermined if post-discharge supports are lacking
  • Quote:
    • "We cannot look at this in silos and... everything falls apart when people don't have that full safety net." (Dr. Hurford, 11:29)
  • [10:45–13:17]

Scalable Strategies for Behavioral Health & Recovery

• Emphasizing Networks—Both Physical and Virtual

  • Building and sustaining partnerships with CBOs, legal aid, transportation, and food providers
  • Leveraging telehealth and digital platforms for broader access and reduced barriers
  • Importance of meeting patients "where they are," literally and figuratively
  • Quote:
    • "It really does come down to leveraging technology and leveraging partnerships... keeping the person at the center of what we do." (Dr. Hurford, 15:18)
  • [13:54–15:29]

• Data, Analytics, and Demonstrating Value

  • Necessity of measurement—clinical outcomes and business efficiency
  • Use of telemedicine analytics (e.g., over 16,000 encounters across 66 counties) to prove value to payers and the state
  • Importance of quality, scale, and connectivity (EHR integration, AI to reduce administrative burden)
  • “Ratchet” Approach: Launch, measure, reinvest, and scale incrementally
  • Quote:
    • "We need to make sure that... we’re able to show that... it is feasible... quality of care [is] appropriate... and is it making sense from a business perspective?" (Dr. Lynch, 17:09)
  • [15:48–20:10]

National Recovery Month: Reflections and Calls to Action

• Reducing Stigma and Increasing Access

  • September is National Recovery Month—UPMC values recovery year-round, but the spotlight is valuable for awareness and stigma reduction
  • COVID-19 increased the demand for behavioral health services, also increased public awareness and willingness to seek help
  • Open trainings and resources (ccbh.com) for providers and the public
  • Quote:
    • "It's so important... to raise people's awareness around the importance of recovery... and reducing the stigma associated with these conditions and seeking help for them." (Dr. Hurford, 21:23)
  • [21:01–23:01]

• Hope, Evidence, and Action

  • Stigma remains a significant barrier; public discussions are crucial
  • Mental and substance use disorders should be considered as diseases, on par with other chronic conditions
  • Quote:
    • "Recovery is possible. It doesn't just happen. It has to be worked at, but it is absolutely possible." (Dr. Lynch, 24:20)
  • Vision and action must be combined for change:
    • “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. But vision with action can change the world.” (Joel Barker, quoted by Dr. Lynch, 24:52)
  • [23:08–25:06]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------------|-------| | 04:29 | Dr. Hurford | "Food really is medicine and there's so much more. Lots of opportunities for individualized understanding of what people and their families might need." | | 05:31 | Dr. Lynch | "Health and well being don't only need to be addressed in the doctor's office, in the hospital or from the payer headquarters." | | 09:20 | Dr. Lynch | "The better we can connect those things... all with the patient at the center of that journey... hopefully prevent them from needing those more acute or urgent care kinds of services that we see at the hospital." | | 11:29 | Dr. Hurford | "We cannot look at this in silos and... everything falls apart when people don't have that full safety net." | | 15:18 | Dr. Hurford | "It really does come down to leveraging technology and leveraging partnerships... keeping the person at the center of what we do." | | 17:09 | Dr. Lynch | "We need to make sure that... we're able to show that... it is feasible... quality of care [is] appropriate... and is it making sense from a business perspective?" | | 21:23 | Dr. Hurford | "It's so important... to raise people's awareness around the importance of recovery... and reducing the stigma associated with these conditions and seeking help for them." | | 24:20 | Dr. Lynch | "Recovery is possible. It doesn't just happen. It has to be worked at, but it is absolutely possible." | | 24:52 | Dr. Lynch (quoting Joel Barker) | "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. But vision with action can change the world." |

Final Takeaways

• UPMC is investing deeply not just in clinical behavioral health, but in the social determinants crucial for recovery and wellness.
• Integration, partnership, and digital expansion are the core themes for scalability.
• Measurement—clinical and financial—is critical to justify and sustain innovation.
• Stigma busting and hope are essential, particularly as the field marks National Recovery Month: Recovery is real, possible, and deserves systematic support.