Behavioral Health Information Technology Bill Gains Sponsors

One of the key issues that advocates raised with federal legislators during Mental Health America’s recent Hill Lobby Day was support for legislation to extend health information technology assistance eligibility to behavioral health, mental health, and substance abuse professionals and facilities (H.R. 5040). The work of advocates is paying off. Since the Conference, 24 House members have signed onto the bill. The full text of the legislation and current list of cosponsors can be found here. If your House member has not signed on, please contact them and urge they do so.

H.R.5040
Title: Health Information Technology Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010
Sponsor: Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] (introduced 4/15/2010) Cosponsors (48)
Related Bills: H.R.5025

SUMMARY:
Health Information Technology Extension for Behavioral Health Services Act of 2010 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to expand the definition of "health care provider" for purposes of health information technology provisions to include a behavioral or mental health professional, a substance abuse professional, a psychiatric hospital, a behavioral and mental health clinic, and a substance abuse treatment facility.

Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, to award grants to eligible entities to: (1) facilitate the purchase of health information technology; (2) enhance the use of such technology, including covering costs associated with upgrading such technology in order to meet the criteria required to become a certified electronic health record (EHR) technology; (3) train personnel in the use of such technology; (4) improve the secure electronic exchange of health information among behavioral and mental health professionals, substance abuse professionals, and other health care providers; (5) improve such technology for adaptation to community-based behavioral health settings; (6) assist with the implementation of telemedicine, including facilitation of distance clinical consultations in rural and underserved areas; and (7) collaborate and integrate with health information technology regional extension centers.

Amends titles XVIII (Medicare) and XIX (Medicaid) of the Social Security Act to include qualified clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric hospitals, mental health treatment facilities, and substance abuse treatment facilities within the health professionals, hospitals, and Medicaid providers eligible for incentive payments for the meaningful use of certified EHR technology.