TJC & CMS News Blog
Information for BH Organizations
To read articles written prior to January 2015, please view our Newsletter Archive.
Parity in Behavioral Healthcare: What Community Behavioral Health Leaders Need to Know
Even with the 2024 rule on hold (see the APA stance below), CBHC leaders have powerful tools to press payers, strengthen contracts, and protect access. Prefer to watch this short video instead of reading? Go to the 6 minutes video version! Parity in Behavioral...
The Leadership Imperative in Behavioral Health
When working with Behavioral Health Organizations nationwide, one pattern stands out: having the most resources doesn't drive success, instead it's by having the strongest leaders. Leadership determines whether staff remain engaged or choose to leave, and whether...
Measuring What Matters: Raising the Bar on Behavioral Healthcare Outcomes
Community behavioral health providers face a growing challenge: not just delivering care under resource constraints, but proving its impact. Measuring outcomes has long been standard in physical health—blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol—but in behavioral health,...
AI Chatbots in Behavioral Health and Acute Psychiatric
The integration of AI chatbots into Community Behavioral Health (CBH) and acute psychiatric care offers a powerful opportunity to extend support and ease workforce strain, but it requires careful navigation of significant risks. Key Considerations Benefits: Chatbots...
Telehealth Accreditation Today – For Community Behavioral Health (CBH) Providers
Telehealth has moved far beyond its pandemic-era roots. Today, it's not just an option, it's a necessity. For community-based behavioral health providers, virtual care has expanded access, reduced no-shows, and brought services to patients who might otherwise go...
EmPATH Units: Redefining Emergency Psychiatric Care
The U.S. mental health crisis is placing unprecedented strain on emergency departments (EDs). Yet traditional EDs are ill-equipped for patients in acute psychiatric distress—leading to delays in care, increased safety risks, and long boarding times. According to the...
Avoiding Survey Setbacks: Informed Consent and Complaint Resolution for Community Behavioral Health and Human Services Surveys
Accreditation surveys frequently reveal gaps in informed consent procedures and complaint/grievance processes. Such deficiencies can result in citations and threaten the facility's accredited status. Therefore, proactive assessments, staff training, and ongoing...
Accreditation 360 Simplified: Your Guide for Behavioral Health & Psych Hospitals
The Joint Commission (TJC) is leading some of the most significant transformations we've seen in decades. Their "Accreditation 360" initiative, the most substantial update since 1965, signals a profound shift. It's designed to ease administrative burdens, sharpen the...
Behavioral Healthcare Facility Construction
Is a new or remodeled building in your future? Before you embark on a behavioral healthcare facility construction plan, there is one step you should take that's as essential as the architectural drawings - an accreditation and regulatory compliance review! Behavioral...
Get Ready: Major Joint Commission Standards Updates Coming July 1, 2025
The pace of change from The Joint Commission has accelerated markedly this year. With a wave of new and revised standards introduced in quick succession, These revisions signal a significant transformation in how behavioral health organizations and psychiatric...