In 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services provided funding to MetaStar to create Behavioral Health Connect. The goal of the program is to support Wisconsin Medicaid-enrolled behavioral health organizations and providers in their efforts to implement, optimize, and improve the quality of care through the use of technology and interoperability. In this session, we will review the importance of developing partnerships to provide health information technology support to behavioral health providers. We will highlight how using an online community along with traditional one-on-one technical assistance has impacted the protection of electronic health information. In addition, we will share information on how expanded interoperability has the potential to improve behavioral health outcomes. We will explore the impact key partnerships have on success and lessons learned in year 1 of the program.
2. Examine the implications of a two-pronged approach to providing technical assistance and support to enhance partnerships.
3. Explore the use of health IT and security risk assessments as building blocks in quality improvement and expanded interoperability.
4. Describe year one impact, lessons learned, and next steps.