9 Pilots to Test Behavioral Health Data Standard Implementation

Nine pilot programs across the country are being set up to strengthen behavioral and physical health integration through improved data exchange as part of the federal Behavioral Health Information Technology (BHIT) Initiative. They will test behavioral health-specific data elements in real-world settings.  

The pilots, to be completed by the end of 2026, represent 45 exchange partners across Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. They will inform future standards, technical specifications, and policy considerations for the broader health provider community and shape future resources for the behavioral health community. 

For instance, in Oregon the MyCarePlanner BH Interoperability project includes four partners led by OHSU. It expands a patient‑driven workflow that enables individuals to consent to and share USCDI+BH data using the MyCarePlanner FHIR app. The goal is to improve care plan accuracy and continuity across behavioral health and primary care settings.

The BHX Connect project in Colorado will create a workflow for seven behavioral health providers to exchange a targeted set of USCDI+BH data elements through a centralized HIE hub. This work aims to improve transitions of care for individuals exiting institutional settings.


The behavioral health IT standards and the testing pilot programs were developed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC). 

The pilots will begin testing the USCDI+ Behavioral Health (USCDI+ BH) dataset and the FHIR Behavioral Health Profiles Implementation Guide (BH IG) in diverse real-world behavioral health settings. USCDI+ BH was developed by ASTP/ONC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) and informed by a public comment period, to improve the effectiveness and reduce the costs of data capture, use, and exchange for behavioral health providers.  

ASTP/ONC said the pilots will implement provider-informed, community-driven projects that address interoperability, privacy, consent, and 42 C.F.R. Part 2  requirements. Lessons learned will inform refinements to the USCDI+ BH dataset and standards. Information gathered from the pilots will also guide the development of the Behavioral Health Information Resource, slated for release in 2027, to support scalable, sustainable nationwide adoption. 

“These pilots are a critical step toward breaking down the barriers currently impacting the interoperable exchange of behavioral health data across the care continuum,” said Tom Keane, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health IT, in a statement. “We are eager to see how these pilots progress and equally eager to digest the findings that will help us support improved continuity of care and improve health outcomes.”