Abstract
Past research has shown abundant comorbidity between physical chronic health conditions and mental illness. The focal point of the conversation to reduce cost is better care coordination through the implementation of health information technology (HIT). At the policy level, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act) was implemented as a way to increase the implementation of HIT. However, behavioral health providers have been largely excluded from obtaining access to the funds provided by the HITECH Act. Without further intervention, disjointed care coordination between physical and behavioral health providers will continue.
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Acknowledgments
The author would like to express thanks to Robert Walker of the University of Kentucky and Michael Lardieri of the National Council for Behavioral Health for their consultation during the development of this manuscript
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Cohen, D. Effect of the Exclusion of Behavioral Health from Health Information Technology (HIT) Legislation on the Future of Integrated Health Care. J Behav Health Serv Res 42, 534–539 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-014-9407-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-014-9407-x