Improving Behavioral Health Data Sharing Starts with Consent

By Heidi Wilson

Behavioral health providers are often asked to coordinate care across multiple settings, including primary care, emergency departments, and community-based services. In many cases, those providers do not have timely access to the information they need to fully understand a patient’s history or current treatment plan. This is because sharing behavioral health data is more complex than sharing other types of clinical information. 

At Connie, we work closely with providers across Connecticut, and we see this challenge play out in real time. Improving access to behavioral health information requires more than connectivity. It requires a thoughtful approach to how sensitive data is shared. 

The Role of Consent in Behavioral Health Care 

Behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) data are subject to additional federal protections, including 42 CFR Part 2. These regulations are designed to ensure that patients have control over how their information is disclosed. 

In practice, this means that providers outside of behavioral health and SUD settings cannot assume access to this data, even when they are actively involved in a patient’s care. When that information is not available, providers may be making decisions without full visibility into a patient's medications, treatment history, or recent encounters. This can lead to duplicative assessments, gaps in follow-ups, delays in appropriate treatment, and increase the risk of adverse events.  

Consent from the patient must be obtained, documented, and applied appropriately. Today, that process is often manual. It may involve paper forms, separate workflows, inconsistent documentation, or cause serious delays in sharing information across organizations. As a result, even when consent is granted, it can be difficult to operationalize in a way that supports real-time care coordination. 

Bringing Consent Into the Flow of Care 

Connie’s participation in the Behavioral Health Interoperability Pilot is focused on addressing that gap. Connie was awarded one of only nine pilot grants through a $20+ million effort led by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). 

Through this work, we are implementing an electronic consent management approach that integrates directly into clinical and data exchange workflows. The goal is to make it easier for providers to capture and honor patient consent, while ensuring that data sharing remains compliant with federal requirements. 

We are partnering with Community Health Resources (CHR) and United Services, Inc. to support real-world data exchange for patients receiving substance use disorder treatment. Together, CHR and United Services serve thousands of patients across Connecticut.  

As part of the pilot, participating organizations will exchange standardized data elements, including encounter information, medications, and discharge summaries, once appropriate consent is in place. 

Providers will be able to: 

• Facilitate consent with patients as part of their existing workflow  

• Share data securely with other members of a shared patient’s care team 

• Access relevant behavioral health information through Connie  

Expected Impact on Care Coordination 

The pilot includes specific goals related to both access and efficiency. 

One focus is increasing the number of patients for whom behavioral health data is available to treating providers. Another is reducing the time required for staff to manage consent and fulfill data requests. 

These changes are expected to support more informed clinical decision-making and reduce delays in care coordination, particularly for patients receiving treatment across multiple settings. 

Just as importantly, this work helps ensure that patients remain at the center of the process. Consent is not removed or minimized. It is made more efficient, both for patients and for providers. 

Looking Ahead 

Improving behavioral health data sharing will take time and continued collaboration across providers, policymakers, and technology partners. 

This pilot represents a practical step forward. By focusing on consent as a core part of the data exchange process, it aims to make information more accessible while maintaining the protections that patients expect. 

At Connie, we are committed to supporting that balance and continuing to build infrastructure that enables better-connected care.