Supporting behavioral health’s next chapter with tech

Emerging care models, tech shifts, and what HIT needs to do next

Behavioral health care is evolving quickly — clinically, structurally, and technologically. From AI-enhanced workflows to expanding access models and new therapeutic approaches, platforms must stay in step with what providers and clients need right now. That includes support for group therapy, remote care, emerging treatments, and real-time regulatory changes.

Here’s an inside look at the trends shaping behavioral health — and how technology must keep pace.

Artificial intelligence and ambient listening are shaping workflows

AI is playing a bigger role in clinical environments — not just via analytics, but through ambient listening tools that reduce documentation burden. Providers are increasingly adopting passive notetaking solutions that generate session notes, especially in high volume settings. A recent study notes that AI is “upturning mental health care,” offering earlier diagnosis support and easing administrative strain.¹ Systems must ensure AI complements — never overrides — the provider-client relationship. Introducing artificial intelligence into any healthcare setting requires transparency, editability, and human oversight.

Practice environments are shifting — flexibility is the baseline

Behavioral health providers now work across in person, virtual, hybrid, and group therapy settings. Platforms that smooth transitions between care settings, manage scheduling, documentation, medical billing, and support group-based care help reduce administrative burden and improve the quality of care that patients receive.

Regulatory updates around telehealth reimbursement and Medicaid rules are changing how care is billed and delivered. HIT systems must adapt quickly — helping users stay compliant as laws and policies shift and helping providers get paid for the care they provide across different settings.

Behavioral health access disparities persist — tech can help close gaps

More than 65% of rural U.S. counties have no psychiatrist—and 20% fewer primary care providers compared to urban areas.² That makes rural mental health access a critical issue. Telehealth has improved access, but challenges remain — including limited broadband and cross-state licensing barriers.

Behavioral health platforms must support distributed care and coordination across state lines and app ecosystems. That means integrating third party digital tools, enabling secure telehealth, and ensuring providers practicing across borders have cohesive access to patient data and workflows.

Research shows that advancements in AI are transforming mental health care, offering earlier diagnosis support, treatment personalization, and real-time monitoring.

Care coordination is under pressure — partly due to disconnected data

Behavioral health clients may receive care from multiple sources: inpatient psychiatric care, primary care providers, addiction recovery programs, rehabilitation facilities, and support therapists who may work remotely, in hybrid settings, or across state lines. Some behavioral health providers see clients in private practice while also contracting with tech-enabled startups that offer therapy via apps or platforms.

But despite the multi-touch nature of behavioral health care, critical data often lives in separate EHRs, paper notes, or third-party platforms that don’t integrate. This lack of interoperability makes it harder to track treatment progress or ensure continuity.

To truly support coordinated, whole-person care, providers need not just EHR-to-EHR exchange, but secure sharing between hospitals, community clinics, behavioral health startups, and solo providers — regardless of where or how they practice.

A changing workforce needs smart, supportive infrastructure

The behavioral health workforce is evolving, with new care models, license requirements, and higher level roles. Technology can help track competencies, enable tele-supervision, and help organizations manage staffing coverage. These features will be critical for recruiting and retaining talent in a complex delivery landscape.

Innovation is accelerating as patients and providers use new technologies

Tech-enabled mental health care is growing rapidly. Providers and healthcare consumers now use tools like:

• AI-supported CBT conversations
• Guided meditation and mood tracking apps
• App-based therapy and digital check-ins
• Wearable rings and watches for sleep, stress, and physiological insights
• VR programs for exposure therapy and PTSD treatment

These tools can make support more accessible and can add a new source of clinical data and critical context that providers can use in care plans – if that data can be integrated into the broader care ecosystem.

Health IT platforms must be ready to pull in structured data from third-party mental health apps, wearable tech, and virtual tools — and present it in ways that support clinical decisions and care planning.

Advocacy is growing — and systems can back it up with data

Providers are stepping into advocacy roles, pushing for expanded access. HIT platforms can support this work by surfacing service disparities, measuring outcomes, and demonstrating treatment impact. Data drives change, whether it’s showing improvements in group therapy or expanding mental health access in rural areas. Systems should make that data clear, actionable, and ready to use.

Staffing shortages and training pipelines are under strain

Behavioral health is facing an urgent workforce crisis. Demand for mental health care continues to rise, while many providers report unmanageable caseloads and stagnant reimbursement — especially in community and safety-net settings. Burnout and turnover are growing risks, particularly among early-career clinicians who face high debt and low pay compared to other health professions.³

At the same time, enrollment in training programs is declining. The field won’t be able to meet future demand without a commitment to investing in flexible, technology-supported education and supervision models.

HIT can help strengthen the pipeline by supporting:

• Competency tracking for students and interns
• Remote supervision and mentorship
• Integrated learning management tools
• Workforce planning dashboards for administrators

Organizations that invest in training infrastructure today are more likely to retain talent and meet growing patient needs tomorrow.

Trust, compliance, and certification are becoming non-negotiable

As behavioral health technology evolves, so do expectations around privacy, security, and regulatory alignment. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, providers are now required to share electronic health information more openly⁴ — giving patients timely access to their records and avoiding practices that limit data exchange. These rules aim to reduce data silos and improve coordination, but for behavioral health providers navigating complex care environments, meeting these standards requires technology that’s both interoperable and secure.

At the same time, patients are increasingly concerned about how their sensitive mental health data is handled, especially when care involves apps, remote visits, or cross-system referrals.

To meet these demands, behavioral health platforms must be reliable, transparent, and ready for regulatory change. Certification by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) confirms that a system meets federal standards for interoperability, data access, and security — signaling that it's built to support compliant care and evolving requirements. Platforms with ONC certification, such as athenaOne® for Behavioral Health, support providers and help protect patient trust.

What behavioral health leaders should do next

Evolving technology and industry trends are reshaping day-to-day mental health care. To meet the new demands, behavioral health teams need systems that are flexible, agile, and built around real-world workflows.

At athenahealth, we build behavioral health platforms designed for today’s challenges — and tomorrow’s opportunities. Behavioral health is changing fast. With the right platform, you don’t just keep pace—you set it.