Erin Burke, founder and CEO of Hansei Solutions, has recently been honored as a 2023 Future Leader in Behavioral Health by Behavioral Health Business, an accolade recognizing high-performing, young leaders who are poised to drive the future of their industries. To earn such a title, individuals must be nominated by their peers and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to advancing their field, particularly in advocating for behavioral health patients and the dedicated professionals who ensure their well-being. With her passion for improving health care systems and her dedication to making a lasting impact on the behavioral health sector, Erin’s recognition as a future leader in behavioral health is well-deserved.
In an exclusive interview with Behavioral Health Business, Erin shared her journey into the industry, her lessons learned along the way, and her vision for the future of behavioral health. Her story not only highlights her personal growth and success but also sheds light on the larger trends shaping the industry as a whole.
From Childhood Aspiration to Industry Leader
Erin’s career in behavioral health began with a deep-rooted interest in health care. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a doctor, driven by a desire to help others. However, as she grew older and gained a clearer understanding of the medical field, she realized that practicing medicine wasn’t the path she wanted to take. Instead, Erin found herself drawn to the infrastructure of health care and the possibility of making a broader impact behind the scenes. She pursued a degree in systems engineering, all the while working in health care environments, which allowed her to blend her technical skills with her passion for improving the delivery of care.
Despite her initial focus on health care systems, it wasn’t until Erin’s encounter with a friend who had opened a treatment center in Southern California that her path into behavioral health was solidified. “I had a friend from high school who opened a treatment center, and he asked me to take a look at his revenue cycle,” Erin recalled. “I was blown away by how archaic their systems were compared to what we would see in a hospital setting. That’s when I realized there was a real opportunity to create change in this space.” This moment was a turning point in her career, where passion, background, and opportunity came together to launch her into the behavioral health industry.
The Hansei Philosophy: Reflect, Learn, and Improve
Hansei Solutions, Erin’s company, is a leader in revenue cycle management (RCM) within the behavioral health space. However, it wasn’t just Erin’s expertise in systems engineering that led to the company’s success; it was also her dedication to creating a company culture centered on Hansei — a Japanese concept meaning to reflect on one’s actions, learn from mistakes, and strive for continuous improvement. This philosophy is fundamental not only to Erin personally but also to how she runs Hansei Solutions.
“At Hansei, we believe in the power of reflection and growth,” Erin explained. “It’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them and strive to do better each day.” This mindset has shaped Hansei Solutions into a company where improvement is constant, mistakes are seen as learning opportunities, and success is defined not by avoiding failure but by overcoming it. For Erin, it’s about fostering a culture where the people she works with, both at Hansei and with the providers they serve, can evolve together and learn through every step of their journey.
Hansei Solutions, which works with providers across the behavioral health industry, has grown to become a crucial player in the field of revenue cycle management. Erin’s leadership has been instrumental in steering the company through challenges and in implementing this continuous improvement philosophy. By ensuring that both her team and their clients embrace a mindset of learning and adaptation, Erin has positioned Hansei as a future leader in behavioral health.
Moving Toward a More Collaborative Future in Behavioral Health
When asked about the biggest change she would make to improve the behavioral health landscape, Erin didn’t hesitate. She believes the key to improving the quality of care and outcomes in the industry lies in fostering greater cooperation between the different entities that play a role in care delivery: payers, providers, and municipalities.
“I would look for more brainstorming and solution-oriented dialogue between payers, providers, and municipalities,” Erin said. She believes that collaboration is necessary to address the challenges the industry faces, particularly with insurance companies and reimbursement issues. Erin also pointed out that while certain treatment modalities are increasingly recognized as effective, they are not always covered by insurance. “There’s a lack of sophistication in measuring outcomes, and many effective treatment methods are still left out of insurance coverage,” she explained.
Erin’s vision for the future of the industry includes the establishment of standardized outcome measures, which would provide data that could drive improvements in care delivery. “If we could establish common standards for measuring outcomes, we could then use that data to advocate for better reimbursement rates from payers,” Erin noted. She strongly believes that increasing the cooperation between payers, providers, and government entities will ultimately benefit both providers and the individuals they serve.
Wraparound Services: A Key to Better Care
One of the specific areas Erin is passionate about is the use of wraparound services, which offer comprehensive, holistic support to patients beyond just direct treatment. These services, which have been shown to improve outcomes, are often covered under Medicaid but are still largely underutilized in the commercial insurance space. Erin advocates for more widespread use of wraparound services and calls for greater collaboration between the different stakeholders in the behavioral health system to ensure that these services are more readily available and fairly reimbursed.
“It’s clear that wraparound services can have a huge impact on improving patient outcomes, but we don’t see them widely covered in the commercial insurance space,” she said. “There’s a lot of data supporting their effectiveness, and I believe that with more cooperation, we can ensure these services are available to more people who need them.”
Looking Ahead to 2024: Access to Care and Inpatient Treatment
As Erin looks ahead to 2024, she anticipates significant shifts in how behavioral health care will be delivered, particularly in the area of inpatient treatment. Historically, many individuals seeking psychiatric or substance use treatment have had to travel long distances to access care, but Erin sees this changing in the near future. With insurance companies tightening restrictions and pushing for treatment to be provided closer to home, she expects to see an increase in local access to inpatient care for both adults and adolescents.
“We’re starting to see a shift in the insurance landscape,” Erin explained. “More treatment is going to be provided near where the patient resides, rather than requiring them to travel across the country.” This change will help address one of the biggest barriers to accessing care — the need to travel long distances — and will make it easier for people to receive the treatment they need in their own communities.
The Future of Behavioral Health: An Industry in Constant Evolution
When asked to describe the future of behavioral health in one word, Erin’s response was simple: evolving. “We’re just scratching the surface of the types of treatments that work for behavioral health populations,” she said. “The industry is constantly learning, and there’s so much more to discover. The future is about continuous learning and improvement.”
Reflecting on her journey, Erin offered a piece of advice for those entering the industry or looking back at their own paths: “Maintain an expectation of adaptation. This is not a narrow road; it’s a winding path. Be prepared for change and set yourself up to adapt to it.” She also emphasized the importance of provider education. At Hansei, they’ve embraced the role of educating providers about payer behavior, clinical documentation, and other essential aspects of the behavioral health system. This knowledge-sharing is key to helping providers grow, improve, and ultimately deliver better care.
Erin Burke’s recognition as a 2023 future leader in behavioral health is a testament to her unwavering commitment to improving behavioral health care. Her leadership at Hansei Solutions and her advocacy for collaboration, standardization, and better access to care are shaping the future of the industry, making it more efficient, accessible, and effective for both providers and patients alike. As she continues to innovate and drive change, Erin is sure to remain at the forefront of the behavioral health industry for years to come.
