Pass the Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Coordination Act

Information technology (IT) has become increasingly important in healthcare settings, especially for care integration and provider-patient communications. Mental health and substance use disorder care has previously been left out of funding opportunities to advance IT in health care. The Behavioral Health Information (BHIT) Coordination Act would provide grant funding to finance the expansion of behavioral health IT, have SAMHSA develop behavioral health IT standards, and direct SAMHSA, CMS, and ONC to release joint guidance to states on how they can promote adoption of EHR technology to behavioral health providers. Mental health and substance use disorder care must be integrated into all health care IT for truly integrated care across providers. Physical health care providers should be able to see the behavioral health history of their patients and vice-versa. Congress should pass the BHIT Coordination Act so that mental health and substance use care is included in all health care IT moving forward.