Inside Core’s Behavioral Health EHR Experience Across Service Lines

For the past 15-plus years, electronic health record (EHR) use has been on the rise. The increase makes sense. While some of the early growth can be attributed to government requirements and mandates, there’s no debate that adoption has been fueled by the technology’s benefits. EHRs streamline healthcare organizations’ work and help improve client care. But for providers in the behavioral health space, generic EHRs that aren’t tailored to their specific needs can set up more hurdles than they break down.

Behavioral health EHRs, like Core Solutions’ Cx360 Enterprise platform, are built not only for holistic behavioral health care, but also subset service lines under the behavioral health umbrella.

Capabilities for All Behavioral Health Service Lines

While each service line within the behavioral health spectrum has its own unique pain points, some needs are universal for all specialties within the space. Core Solutions’ Cx360 Enterprise EHR is designed to help with them all:

1. Revenue cycle management (RCM). The Cx360 Enterprise EHR offers a robust, integrated RCM engine that supports accurate coding, insurance claim scrubbing, authorization verification, and accounts receivable management. The EHR also flexibly adapts to specific billing models, be they fee-for-service or value-based care (VBC). The system tracks client outcome metrics (e.g., PHQ-9, GAD-7, CANS, ASAM) and supports outcome-based documentation, which are essential to the VBC model.

2. Data and reporting. Providers can access real-time clinical, client, and operational data via an intuitive dashboard. The Cx360 Enterprise EHR serves up insights related to diagnoses, treatment plans, and risk factors, while its AI-powered add-on solutions use machine-learning technology to analyze massive datasets at rapid speed. With this data, providers can make more informed clinical decisions, and leaders can support long-term financial and organizational health.

3. Compliance support. Embedded compliance trackers help teams stay up to date on both the ever-evolving regulatory landscape and specific compliance-related tasks. Automated and templated documentation helps ensure client notes and billing information match compliance requirements, including documentation timeliness, medical necessity standards, and payer-specific rules. This reduces the chance of claim denials or payment delays, both of which can significantly impact an organization’s financial stability.

Meeting Service-Line-Specific Needs

In addition to supporting universal behavioral health needs, Core Solutions Cx360 Enterprise EHR is purpose-built to help providers in specific service lines deliver high-quality care, ensure long-term financial viability, and empower clients.

Mental Health

While healthcare organizations in many specialties struggle with provider retention, the mental health service line faces disproportionate challenges. According to the American Psychological Association, nearly half of all psychologists in the United States report feeling burnt out, and 46% say it’s so bad that they’re unable to meet increasing client demand for their services because of it.

The Cx360 Enterprise EHR helps address these pervasive issues by offering:

• Time-saving automation. Embedded communication features, fast access to all client notes, integrated clinical best practices, and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ambient documentation all save providers significant time and energy, freeing them up to focus more on direct client care. Since 92% of providers say manual documentation is challenging and excessive, the efficiency that the Cx360 EHR offers is essential to reducing strain.

• Clinical care support. When administrative tasks pile up, it’s hard to focus on what matters most: clients. But the Cx360 EHR offers integrated evidence-based workflows, real-time care management tools, and progress monitoring. These and other features support informed clinical decision-making, reduce cognitive burden, and help providers stay current on their clients’ needs.

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A 2023 study of clients with substance use disorders found that 55% of clients dropped out of treatment within three years. Sadly, 17% of that group frequented emergency departments after dropping out, and 1% died within that timeframe.

The high dropout rate is an issue that the researchers feel could be improved with better provider integration and follow-up. Here’s how Core Solutions’ behavioral health EHR can help:

• Unifying tools. The Cx360 Enterprise EHR software unites providers across the care continuum — from counselors to outpatient clinicians to crisis response teams. These teams can communicate and collaborate securely in real time, using evidence-based best practices to provide whole-person care that critically integrates physical, mental, and emotional health. This integrated care coordination approach also helps providers manage co-occurring conditions as a team, while AI-powered add-on features enable teams to closely monitor clients’ progress to ensure they stay on track with treatment plans.

• Client empowerment solutions. Providers can use the Cx360 Enterprise EHR to keep individuals engaged throughout long-term care. Clients can access condition-specific education and easily ask their providers questions directly through the platform. They can also schedule appointments, complete required forms, pay bills, coordinate with providers, and more — giving them a one-stop shop for empowered engagement in their life plans.

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70 million adults in the U.S. live with a disability. Yet, IDD and autism spectrum disorders can take many forms and impact people’s quality of life in vastly different ways. That’s why IDD providers need solutions that help them individualize care to each client’s unique needs.

Core's Cx360 Enterprise behavioral health EHR fosters:

• Person-centered care planning. The Cx360 EHR offers templated care planning tools based on evidence-based best practices and HCBS waiver requirements, as well as customizable options that providers can tailor to each client’s needs. Providers can quickly create and access life and service plans, assessments, and goal-tracking features, helping them personalize care to IDD clients and stay connected long-term.

• Equitable access to care. Clients who are unable to visit a provider’s office can still receive high-quality care through integrated telehealth services. Providers can send personalized telehealth invitations, and clients can schedule and attend telehealth visits through their platform dashboard. Meanwhile, direct service providers (DSPs) and care teams can access client notes and treatment plans through secure mobile tools, enabling them to support IDD clients effectively — even when on the go.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

The certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) model was created to deliver more widespread, personalized, value-based care to people with mental health, IDD, and substance use conditions. In some states, the model has resulted in a 20% decrease in hospitalization rates and a 23% increase in access to mental health care.

Yet, the model comes with some difficulties. Providers across the care continuum must be in lockstep with one another while juggling complex documentation and billing requirements. Fortunately, the Cx360 behavioral health EHR can help mitigate these challenges with:

• Collaboration solutions. The CCBHC model requires providers to work closely with designated collaborating organizations (DCOs), including crisis response teams, inpatient psychiatric facilities, child placing agencies, homeless shelters, and more. Using the Cx360 Enterprise platform, providers can share treatment plans and client information quickly with DCOs; create custom workflows to ensure seamless collaboration; and even assess availability at crisis stabilization unites, shelters, and care facilities to best aid clients in need.

• Advanced billing and data reporting tools. Since costs for CCBHC services are dependent on previous outcome and services data, tracking the right information is crucial not only to delivering high-quality care but also to ensuring financial viability. The Cx360 Enterprise platform automatically tracks session time, serves up custom data insights for easy reporting, and connects services to the right billing codes, including prospective payment system (PPS) and cost-based billing workflows.

Transformational Care Starts With Core Solutions

When it comes to keeping pace with compliance regulations, billing requirements, and client needs, adopting streamlined EHR software is a no-brainer. But it’s important to remember that not every EHR platform is designed for your specific needs. And implementing a generic EHR can end up causing undue stress.

Core Solutions’ Cx360 EHRs, as well as its other advanced technologies, offer tailored, customized solutions designed to meet your needs:

• The Cx360 Enterprise EHR is built for large, complex organizations with significant operational needs. The platform turns complicated workflows into smooth, streamlined operations.

• The Cx360 Intelligence platform is an AI-powered solution that enables smaller practices to scale. It delivers smarter practice management and seamless, cutting-edge AI technology.

Ready to see Core’s technology in action? Reach out for a platform demo today.

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