Health Information Technology (HIT) for CCBHCs Toolkit

This three-part toolkit is a planning resource for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic-Expansion (CCBHC-E) grantees, including Planning, Development and Implementation (PDI) and Improvement and Advancement (IA). It will help them build and/or expand health information technology (HIT) to support CCBHC requirements. It provides an overview of HIT fundamentals and includes foundational considerations, priority areas, and specific requirement-focused guidance for establishing HIT that supports the CCBHC.

This toolkit was developed in 2024 by Bowling Business Strategies in partnership with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s CCBHC-E National Training and Technical Assistance Center. It reflects the requirements outlined in SAMHSA’s updated CCBHC Certification Criteria.

Explore each section below to learn how to navigate the toolkit.

Part 1: Important Considerations for Establishing HIT to Fulfill the CCBHC Model

Recommended for providers seeking a foundation for establishing their health information strategy and guidance in identifying and selecting core HIT components such as an EHR. This section includes taking an organizational approach to data, establishing HIT leadership, evaluating and purchasing HIT and core considerations in building HIT for a CCBHC.

Part 2: CCBHC Priority Areas

Identifies important considerations for the use of HIT in a CCBHC. These include care delivery, care coordination, HIE, person-centered and family-centered treatment planning, population health management and quality and funder reporting.

Part 3: CCBHC Requirements and Needed HIT Capacity

Intended for leaders with an active EHR and an understanding of HIT fundamentals who are seeking to optimize their HIT for their CCBHC. This section includes tables that delineate each SAMHSA requirement pertaining to HIT and provides guidance on the HIT capacity and functions needed to meet the requirement.

This publication was made possible by Grant Number 1H79SM085856 from the SAMHSA. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views, opinions or policies of SAMHSA or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.