Spending on health information technology for mental health and human services lags behind other healthcare services, and there should be funding opportunities open for IT spending on these, according to
results of a joint survey released by the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare.
The survey of 440 organizations found that total health IT spending in behavioral and human services represents 1.8% of a total operating budget compared with 3.8% in general healthcare. IT staffing was about 1.3% of total full-time equivalents compared with 4.3% of FTEs in general healthcare, according to the survey, dubbed the Behavioral Health/Human Services Information Systems Survey.
Centerstone Research Institute conducted the online survey last January on behalf of several sponsors in addition to the national council, including the Mental Health Corporations of America, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems and Software and Technology Vendors' Association.
Health IT can improve mental health services for patients, but there is no funding allocated for that in the IT act established through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, said Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare in a written statement.
