Chapter 4 looks at how Medicaid policy can be used to support adoption of health information technology among behavioral health providers to better integrate behavioral health and physical health care. Delivery systems for physical and behavioral health are often fragmented, impeding access to care and resulting in inappropriate or limited use of services, poor health status, and increased costs for people with behavioral health conditions. Medicaid programs play a critical role in financing behavioral health services and are increasingly focused on ways to provide behavioral health in more integrated settings.
In this chapter, the Commission recommends that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) develop and issue joint guidance on how states can use Medicaid authorities and other federal resources to promote behavioral health IT adoption and interoperability. The Commission also recommends that SAMHSA and ONC jointly develop a voluntary certification for IT used in behavioral health and integrated care settings to support ongoing integration efforts.
From: June 2022 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP