Patients with behavioral conditions are often burdened with chronic physical health conditions. Consequently, providers caring for these patients must coordinate their care to achieve the best possible health outcomes. The lack of reliable health information sharing and integration of health data across care settings can hinder this meaningful care coordination. For example, people may experience duplicate tests, medication errors, or gaps in care at critical times. HHS recognizes the vital role that innovative health information technology (Health IT) plays in solving these challenges. Improved electronic data exchange can expand access to behavioral health care, support enhanced care coordination, empower clinical decision making, and lead to improved health outcomes.
THE Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) The initiative addresses the need for improved data sharing in behavioral health care settings. Nine new pilot projects will advance health data sharing to improve behavioral health care coordination. See the press release announcing the pilot projects.
BHIT initiative
The BHIT Initiative is a 20 million dollars effort led by ASTP/ONC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The effort includes collaboration with the industry for its development USCDI+ Behavioral Health Dataset (USCDI+ BH). and FHIR® Behavioral Health Profile Implementation Guide (BH IG) to provide standardized data elements and technical specifications to improve the state of behavioral health data sharing between areas of care. Pilot projects will test the The USCDI+ BH dataset and FHIR® BH IG to evaluate real-world health behavior data sharing across the country.
Pilots selected
The trial will not only improve the standards and technical specifications of the USCDI+ BH dataset, but will also provide vital information about providers’ implementation experience as well as legal and policy considerations for the broader provider community. Pilot participants represent 45 exchange partners throughout Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington, DC. Along with technical assistance, ASTP/ONC and SAMHSA will provide funds ranging from $300,000 to $690,000 to implement innovative, community-based projects testing the USCDI+ BH dataset and FHIR® BH IG, and support improved behavioral information sharing over the next year.
Pilot projects will identify effective practices and opportunities that can support improved behavioral health data sharing for patients and providers. This includes care coordination, federal and state reporting, patient access and consent, and consent management for entities covered by federal requirements for the confidentiality of substance use disorder patient records (42 CFR Part 2).
Several pilot projects are also leveraging health information exchanges as an infrastructure for data sharing, and two are exploring innovative uses of artificial intelligence alongside the use of USCDI+ BH data elements. Importantly, these pilot projects include participants at various levels of health IT maturity, increasing the likelihood that the solutions developed can be scaled across provider types and settings.
Looking Ahead
The pilot projects have already begun their initial phase of work and will be completed by the end of 2026. Lessons learned from the pilot projects will inform improvements to the USCDI+ BH data elements and the FHIR® BH IG technical specifications. The insights gained will also shape the development of the Behavioral Health Information Resource – a comprehensive tool incorporating lessons and best practices from the pilots, scheduled for launch in 2027. Stay tuned for more updates and find the resource on our website next year.
These pilot projects represent an important step toward a more interoperable health care system that supports integrated behavioral and physical health care. By testing standardized data sharing in real-world settings across the country, we are building the foundation for scalable adoption that can improve continuity of care, improve data sharing between care settings, and deepen the connection between two often siled parts of the health care system.
Stay engaged
We encourage interested parties to stay tuned for updates on the pilot’s progress and opportunities to provide feedback on the USCDI+ BH dataset and FHIR® BH IG.
