Barrins Bulletin
July 2025
Greetings to Our Colleagues in Behavioral Health!
Dear Readers,
Welcome to July: A Season of Purpose, Progress, and Unwavering Dedication in Behavioral Health!
We are delighted to welcome you to this month’s Barrins & Associates newsletter. For those of us in behavioral healthcare, July isn’t just about sunshine; it’s a vital reminder of the profound and essential work we do every single day.
Whether you’re leading a psychiatric hospital, guiding patients through outpatient therapy, coordinating critical crisis services, or championing recovery and resilience programs, your dedication is the bedrock of our community. Your impact, now more than ever, shapes lives and strengthens our collective well-being.
This month, we delve into a topic that’s crucial for all of us navigating the evolving landscape of care: The Joint Commission’s Accreditation 360 initiative. As you’ll discover in our featured article, this isn’t just another update; it’s a transformative shift designed to streamline processes and sharpen our focus on patient outcomes. We’ll explore what these changes mean for both general Behavioral Healthcare Providers and Psychiatric Hospitals, and in our Tip of the Month, we’ll share how embracing information agility can be your greatest asset in this new era.
Our hope is that this issue serves as a valuable resource, helping you not only stay ahead of the curve but also to refocus your purpose, recharge your passion, and recommit to our shared mission: promoting mental wellness, supporting recovery, and advancing health equity for all.
Here’s to a month of meaningful momentum, and to each of us making an extraordinary difference every single day.
Our newsletter is designed to support behavioral health organizations by offering clear, straightforward regulatory, accreditation, operations, and industry updates, along with practical compliance and operational tips to help navigate these challenges smoothly. We hope this edition eases both your mind and your workload—so keep reading for insights that can lighten the load and even bring a little fun to your compliance journey.
As always, we appreciate your input on the newsletter. Please take a moment to share your comments and let us know your thoughts. Additionally, we welcome suggestions for topics you would like to see covered in future issues. We eagerly anticipate hearing from you! Don’t hesitate to forward this newsletter to your colleagues; their insights are invaluable to us as well.
Best Regards,
Julia Finken
RN, BSN, MBA, CPHQ, CLSSMBB
Senior Vice President
Empowering Healthcare Excellence Together
Where Will Barrins Be?
We’re hitting the road this fall and can’t wait to connect with you! We will be at several exciting conferences – each one packed with valuable insights, fresh perspectives, and incredible networking opportunities. These events are excellent opportunities to learn, share, and grow, and we’re thrilled to be part of the conversation.
If you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hi, we’d love to see you!
UNIFY 2025 Convening for Quality
Washington, DC | September 16–17
Join leaders and changemakers from across the industry as we explore strategies to advance quality and safety in healthcare.
CIHQ Accreditation & Regulatory Summit
San Antonio, TX | October 21–23
An essential gathering for those navigating the accreditation landscape—don’t miss the chance to sharpen your knowledge and connect with peers.
TJC Behavioral Health & Human Services Conference
Rosemont, IL | October 21–22
Focused on the unique challenges and priorities in behavioral health, this event is a must-attend for organizations seeking practical solutions and best practices.
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…
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…
During The Joint Commission (TJC) surveys, issues with informed consent and how psychiatric hospitals handle patient complaints are among the most common and serious problems found. These issues can lead to findings, increased regulatory scrutiny, and even threaten a…
DNV
Mark your calendars! The 13th annual DNV Healthcare Symposium is set for October 20-23, 2025, at the Hilton Costa Mesa/Orange County in California.
This symposium is a fantastic opportunity for our behavioral health leaders and psychiatric hospital teams. DNV is offering a dedicated Pre-Event Workshop specifically focused on Behavioral Health, alongside interactive sessions, industry updates, and valuable networking. It’s a chance to gain fresh ideas to boost productivity and enhance patient care.
CIHQ
CIHQ offers valuable opportunities for professional development and staying sharp on compliance. CIHQ’s 2025 Accreditation & Regulatory Summit & HACP Preparatory Course CIHQ is hosting its 2025 Accreditation & Regulatory Summit from October 21-23, 2025, at Pedrotti’s Ranch in San Antonio, TX. The theme, “Are You Gambling with Your Compliance?” promises in-depth exploration of regulatory challenges.
Right before the Summit, on October 20, 2025, also in San Antonio (at the Hilton San Antonio Hill Country), they are offering their 2025 HACP Preparatory Course. This one-day course prepares attendees for the nationally recognized Healthcare Accreditation Certification Professional (HACP) examination, with tracks including CMS, Physical Environment, and Infection Control.
These events provide practical insights and certification opportunities that can significantly enhance your compliance efforts and professional growth, whether you work with a behavioral health provider or a psychiatric hospital.
ACHC
ACHC has recently published an insightful article, Reframing a “Dependent Status” Survey Decision. For both Behavioral Health providers and Psychiatric Hospitals, this piece offers crucial guidance if your organization ever receives a “Dependent Status” decision after a survey.
The article wisely encourages us to view this not as a setback, but as a valuable second chance to validate your compliance and readiness to deliver safe, effective, high-quality care. It outlines what to expect during a Dependent Survey and emphasizes the importance of a robust, well-executed Plan of Correction (POC) to address any identified non-compliance. It’s all about demonstrating sustainable improvements and a commitment to continuous quality.
This is a must-read for understanding how to turn a challenging survey outcome into an opportunity for stronger operations and better patient outcomes.
Also, a quick reminder about a valuable resource that’s been helping many of our behavioral health provider clients, their On-Demand Behavioral Health Accreditation Workshop.
If you’re a behavioral health provider looking to confidently prepare for your initial or renewal surveys, this workshop offers an in-depth look at the ACHC accreditation process and their Behavioral Health Standards.
Don’t forget these great benefits:
- A free digital accreditation workbook ($499 value!)
- A discount on ACHC Accreditation
- The flexibility to learn at your own pace, whenever it suits you
Ready to revisit or start your accreditation prep? Click to learn more and register.
CARF
Here is a reminder about a valuable live online training session from CARF: “Developing Stakeholder Feedback Surveys: Best Practices for Writing Questions and Gathering Data.”
This webinar, happening on August 13, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm ET, is perfect for anyone looking to improve their feedback questionnaires. Gathering meaningful feedback is crucial for demonstrating quality and driving continuous improvement. At just $50, this is a highly accessible opportunity to sharpen a vital skill.
COA
From the Council on Accreditation (COA), a service of Social Current. They have several valuable opportunities scheduled for August. COA and Social Current are hosting a series of webinars and “On the Road” events this August. These include:
- Introduction to COA Accreditation (August 13) – a free webinar for those new to COA.
- Deepening Quality Improvement Efforts: Real-World Success Stories (August 14) – a free webinar showcasing practical QI initiatives.
- Advocacy Ecosystems: Building Collective Power Across Sectors (August 26) – a webinar on strategic advocacy.
- They’ll also be “On the Road” at the Florida Behavioral Health Conference (August 20) and other key events.
These are great chances to learn, connect, and stay informed on best practices and advocacy. You can find more details and registration links on the Social Current website.
On May 22, 2025, CMS released enhanced guidance in support of Executive Order 14221 (“Making America Healthy Again…”), reinforcing the Hospital Price Transparency (HPT) Rule. This update mandates that hospitals must disclose actual dollar amounts—not placeholders—for all services and items in their machine-readable files, including payer-specific negotiated rates, estimated allowed amounts, and contracted fee schedules.
The guidance stops the practice of using “999999999” as a placeholder, requiring hospitals to calculate and publish meaningful average reimbursement data from the past 12 months—or, where historical data are unavailable, a reasoned estimated cost—while documenting usage patterns. Aligned with federal directives to standardize pricing, improve transparency, and strengthen enforcement, these measures are designed to empower patients, researchers, employers, and policymakers with clear, actionable pricing information.
We were founded by Anne Barrins, former Joint Commission surveyor, and are succeeded by Julia Finken, former Joint Commission 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.
In this Issue
- Accreditation 360 Simplified: Your Guide for Behavioral Health & Psych Hospitals
- Avoiding Survey Setbacks: Informed Consent and Complaint Resolution for Community BH Surveys
- Informed Consent and Complaint Resolution for Psychiatric Hospitals
- Accreditor Insights & Updates: DNV, CIHQ, ACHC, CARF, COA
- Tip of the Month: Your Accreditation 360 Edge: Embrace Information Agility
Congratulations Corner
We applaud our clients who have recently and successfully completed their Joint Commission Behavioral Health and Human Services and/or Hospital Accreditation Program Survey.
The achievement of such indicates an aptitude for quality and safety of care. Congratulations to your organization and staff!
Caritas Treatment and Wellness Center
Montefiore Mount Vernon Hospital
Hear What Our Clients Say
“When the Barrins consultant surveys ABH, she brings not only knowledge of the standards and trends that are being seen in surveys across the industry. She also brings a wealth of experience from her time serving in a situation similar to our system of care. This means she understands many of the challenges that we face and realizes there are no easy answers when working with complex illnesses. At the same time, she is unwavering in her commitment to excellence in care delivery and expects the same from us. We seek to continually improve upon what we do, and she has been a significant contributor to our journey“
Elaine Crnkovic
CEO
Appalachian Behavioral Healthcare
Are You Survey Ready?
At Barrins & Associates we can assist you to achieve and sustain accreditation and regulatory compliance in adherence to the TJC, DNV, CHIQ, ACHC, CARF, COA, 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.