The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has selected nine pilot programs to test health IT standards aimed at strengthening behavioral and physical health integration.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the selections Feb. 2, according to a news release from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT. The pilots will be funded through the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative, a $20 million SAMHSA investment.
The pilot programs represent 45 exchange partners across Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. They will test behavioral-specific data elements in real-world behavioral health settings.
The pilot will begin testing the USCDI+ Behavioral Health dataset and the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources Behavioral Health Profiles Implementation Guide. The dataset was developed by ASTP/ONC and SAMHSA and informed by a public comment period to improve the effectiveness and reduce costs of data capture, use and exchange for behavioral health providers.
The project will address interoperability, privacy, consent and 42 C.F.R. Part 2 requirements, according to the release. Findings from the pilots, which will be complete by the end of 2026, will inform future standards, technical specifications and policy considerations for the broader provider community and guide development of a Behavioral Health Information Resource slated for release in 2027.
Read more about the pilot program here.
