Arizona Representative Ron Barber introduced bipartisan legislation last week that would add mental health professionals to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, legislation passed in 2009 to assist health care providers in adopting health information technology.
At the time the law was passed, behavioral and mental health professionals were left out.
“The services provided by mental health care professionals are essential to the overall health of their patients – yet fewer than half of these practitioners have electronic health record systems,” Barber said today. “Such systems will save money and improve patient health by better coordinating care.”
Barber introduced the Behavioral Health Information Technology Act, cosponsored by Rep. Tim Murphy, a Pennsylvania Republican. Barber is a member and Murphy a co-chair of the Congressional Mental Health Caucus.
“My committee’s review of the nation’s mental health system has uncovered a critical communication divide between doctors and mental health professionals,” said Murphy. “This legislation will lead to truly integrated care for the mentally ill, who are at a greater risk of suffering from costly chronic conditions like stroke, heart disease and diabetes.”
A study by Johns Hopkins University found that hospital readmission rates for people living with a mental illness fell by 39 percent when other mental health professionals were given access to inpatient psychiatric records.
The legislation is projected to reduce adverse drug interactions and prevent emergency room visits and hospital admissions.
The legislation would provide a mechanism for mental health providers to invest in electronic health record systems and make them eligible to apply for grants to buy equipment and train staff. It also would expand these benefits to substance abuse professionals, psychiatric hospitals, behavioral and mental health clinics and substance abuse treatment facilities.
The bill also would extend Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for use of electronic records to psychologists and mental health professionals who provide clinical care at psychiatric hospitals, mental health treatment facilities and substance abuse treatment facilities.