Research & Technology
We live in an era of great technological and scientific advancement. From the onset of artificial intelligence to the speed with which we develop new clinical treatments, with the proper rules and safeguards, research and technology can improve access to care and improve lives.
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Evaluate mobile health product effectiveness
Congress should designate a regulatory agency to evaluate mobile health product effectiveness in real-world settings.[1]
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Expand patient mental health data privacy protections
Congress should expand patient data privacy protections for mental health and wellness applications.[1]
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Expand EHR utilization in MH/SUD
Congress should pass legislation like the Behavioral Health Information Technology Coordination Act to advance adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) among mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) providers.[1][2]
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Increase research on tech-assisted monitoring and treatment for SUD
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) should implement a fast-track review process for any new evidence-based technology supporting substance use disorder (SUD) prevention and treatments.[1]
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Create HCPCS codes for tech-based treatments
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should fast-track the creation of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes for Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved technology-based treatments, digital interventions, and biomarker-based interventions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) should develop a means to evaluate behavior modification apps for effectiveness.[1]
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Align SUD protections with HIPAA
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must finalize strong regulations to align privacy protections for substance use disorder (SUD) patient recommendations with protections under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Congress previously passed legislation to address problems caused by a provision of federal law – 42 CFR Part 2 – that has inhibited the integration of SUD care with mental health and physical health care.[1]