Barrins Bulletin
January 2026
Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Health!
Dear Readers,
As we begin a new year, behavioral health leaders find themselves navigating a landscape defined by growth, evolving survey expectations, and a more operationally focused approach to accreditation. In January’s newsletter, we explore how these forces are converging—and what that means for organizations preparing for 2026 and beyond.
First, we address what Accreditation 360 now fully means for psychiatric hospitals. With the transition complete, survey success is no longer driven by documentation alone, but by how consistently safe care is delivered and overseen every day. We outline where survey risk is most concentrated, how tracer methodology is applied in behavioral health settings, and what readiness looks like under the Survey Process Guide framework.
Next, we turn to what many Community Behavioral Health leaders are asking right now: Do surveys feel different heading into 2026? While standards may look familiar, survey experiences increasingly emphasize leadership understanding, real-time oversight, and how performance information is used to drive decisions. This article highlights how survey conversations are evolving—particularly around suicide prevention, documentation, workplace violence prevention, and quality improvement—and what leaders should be prepared to explain during surveys
Finally, we open with a look at behavioral health growth strategies and why early alignment with accreditation and regulatory requirements plays a critical role in supporting safe, scalable care. As organizations expand through new programs, geographic growth, acquisitions, or virtual care models, accreditation increasingly serves as a shared operational framework—helping leaders maintain consistency, reduce rework, and protect patient safety during periods of change.
Collectively, these articles reflect a common theme: accreditation is no longer a periodic exercise—it is an ongoing expression of how organizations operate, lead, and learn.
Our goal at Barrins & Associates remains to help teams translate evolving expectations into practical, defensible daily practice that supports staff confidence and patient safety.
We hope this month’s insights are helpful as you set priorities for the year ahead. As always, we value the opportunity to support your work and look forward to partnering with you in 2026.
Warm Regards,
Yvonne Rockwood
MBA, MHA, CPHQ
Senior Vice President
Translating Growth, Surveys, and Accreditation into Confident Daily Practice
As the accreditation landscape continues to evolve, some organizations may notice changes in how readiness and advisory support is provided. During periods of transition, having access to experienced, independent perspectives can be helpful.
Barrins & Associates remains focused on practical, standards-based support and is always available as a resource when questions arise. We appreciate the continued trust and partnerships we’ve built over the years.
Questions or need support?
For assistance or additional information, please contact:
Yvonne Rockwood
Senior Vice President
yvonne.rockwood@hbsinc.com
What to expect from Accreditation 360? It is now fully in effect, completing a multi-year shift in how the Joint Commission evaluates psychiatric hospitals and distinct psychiatric units. While the framework applies across all hospital types, its impact is most…
In preparation for upcoming accreditation surveys, many community behavioral health leaders are asking the same question: Will surveys look or feel different from 2025? The answer is —- not dramatically! Your 2026 survey will still follow the traditional Behavioral…
Behavioral health is growing, and leaders are finding increasingly creative ways to expand. One recent example comes from SUN Behavioral Health’s acquisition of Seaside Healthcare, where a senior executive described the strategy this way:
Joint Commission (JC)
- Accreditation 360 is fully in effect for 2026, shifting surveys toward real-time observation, tracer activity, and leadership understanding—not documentation alone.
- National Performance Goals (NPGs) replace National Patient Safety Goals, reframing safety expectations as measurable performance.
- Survey Process Guide (SPG) has expanded significantly and now drives how standards are evaluated during surveys.
- Ongoing webinars and on-demand education available on Accreditation 360, SPG use, tracers, and leadership readiness.
CIHQ
- Focus on practical regulatory compliance for hospitals, including behavioral health settings.
- Strong emphasis on environment of care, life safety, and CMS alignment.
- Free monthly webinars offered through CIHQ Accreditation Resource Services (ARS), including equity and language access topics.
- Ongoing education on common deficiencies, survey readiness, and regulatory trends.
- CIHQ summits and preparatory courses planned through 2026.
CARF
- Continued emphasis on person-centered, recovery-oriented care across behavioral health services.
- Measurement-Based Care (MBC) remains a major focus, with expectations that data inform treatment decisions.
- Accreditation remains collaborative and consultative, with peer surveyors and improvement-focused feedback.
- CARF 101 and standards-focused training offered virtually in early 2026 for new and renewing organizations.
- Ongoing updates and guidance provided through CARF manuals and Customer Connect resources.
DNV
- DNV continues offering accreditation using NIAHO (based on CMS COPs) combined with ISO-focused quality management principles.
- While specific 2026 behavioral health-specific changes weren’t surfaced in the latest public sources, DNV emphasizes integrated quality management systems, ISO principles, and continuous compliance.
- Healthcare organizations using DNV should review CMS Condition of Participation updates and DNV’s interpretation resources / clarifications as they become published early in 2026.
- See DNV’s Education calendar for upcoming events
COA
- COA continues to accredit behavioral health, human services, and related programs. There’s active alignment with Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) criteria and best practice sharing, demonstrating how COA standards interface with emerging care models.
- Although specific 2026 standard changes haven’t been widely publicized as of this moment, COA frequently offers webinars and learning events through Social Current Webinars / Events
- COA–related sessions often focus on accreditation basics, preparation for CCBHCs, best practice integration, and Q&A with accredited organizations. These can include webinars, workshops, and regional live events.
Listen for Consistency—Not Perfection
As accreditation expectations continue to emphasize real-time practice, a helpful monthly habit is to listen for consistency in how staff and leaders describe care, rather than focusing on whether every answer is worded perfectly.
When discussing high-risk areas—such as suicide prevention, documentation, workplace safety, or transitions of care—ask:
- Are staff describing the same process, even if in different words?
- Do leaders explain how they know processes are working?
- Is practice aligned across sites, shifts, or programs?
Consistent understanding is often a stronger indicator of readiness than polished documentation—and it is exactly what surveyors are listening for in 2026.
Barrins & Associates provides regulatory and accreditation consulting services for the Behavioral Healthcare industry, including psychiatric hospitals and freestanding BH organizations. We specialize in providing survey preparation and continuous survey readiness services to help you provide safe and compliant care.
Founded in 1999 by Anne Barrins, former Joint Commission (JC) surveyor and succeeded by Julia Finken, former JC surveyor, Associate Director of Business Development for the Home Care Program, and Executive Director of Business Development for the Behavioral Health Care and Psychiatric Hospital Programs and Yvonne Rockwood, former Regional Associate Director for the Eastern Business Development Division at the JC for Community Behavioral Health Care Services.
Why Choose Us?
“The consultants provided effective, well-balanced support that prepared the organization for survey. Their partnership, support, expertise and guidance were greatly appreciated! Claire brings a different yet equally effective approach that complements the work of her colleague well. Her strengths balance nicely within the consulting team and together they provide a well-rounded perspective that benefits the survey process!“
Chief Operating Officer
Outpatient Behavioral Health Care Organization
Are You Survey Ready?
We can assist you to achieve and sustain accreditation and regulatory compliance in adherence to the JC, DNV, CHIQ, ACHC, CARF, COA, QUAD-A, and CMS, standards for psychiatric hospitals and community behavioral health and human services providers. Inquire today about our consulting services. We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.
Inquire today about our consulting services.
We continue to support your journey toward accreditation and regulatory compliance.