The states of Delaware and Massachusetts have recently made concerted efforts to improve care transitions across their behavioral health systems.

The Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH), in partnership with vendor Bamboo Health, has rolled out DTRN360, a behavioral healthcare coordination platform designed to connect providers, improve care transitions and reduce silos across the behavioral health system.

Meanwhile, MassHealth, which is responsible for the Commonwealth’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs, has worked with vendor PointClickCare on a new Behavioral Health Treatment and Referral Platform, which is supporting the Commonwealth’s Expedited Psychiatric Inpatient Admission (EPIA) protocol by streamlining referral processes, sharing essential information on provider capacity, standardizing admissions information, and offering a transparent view of patients awaiting inpatient psychiatric placement in emergency departments or medical-surgical floors within hospitals.

The result of a multi-year effort, Delaware’s DTRN360 brings together state agencies and care teams through a unified digital platform supporting real-time communication and care coordination. It is fully integrated into provider workflows, allowing users to identify the best next step in care, manage referrals, view shared treatment history and support individuals across behavioral health and social service systems.

“This isn’t just about technology. It’s about helping providers work together more easily to support the people we serve,” said Michelle Singletary-Twyman, director of operations at DSAMH, in a statement. “DTRN360 strengthens our behavioral health system by giving care teams better tools to coordinate and stay connected.”

In 2018, DSAMH launched the Delaware Treatment and Referral Network (DTRN) using Bamboo Health’s OpenBeds technology to digitize behavioral health referrals. The system has since facilitated over 250,000 referrals, improving the speed, accuracy and follow-through of care connections across the state. In 2023, DSAMH expanded the partnership with the addition of Bamboo’s Crisis Management System, enhancing coordination between crisis responders and treatment providers. Together, these tools set the stage for the full statewide launch of DTRN360.

Now, with DTRN360, providers who have the legal authorization to access a client’s information can coordinate care more effectively through key features supporting better outcomes:
• See relevant health and behavioral health history previously out of view, reducing reliance on patients to recall complex care details during vulnerable moments;
• Work within their existing clinical workflows with no extra logins or standalone portals
• Receive real-time alerts to prompt proactive follow-up and outreach;
• Track referrals and placements across the care continuum to ensure warm handoffs and follow-through; and
• Connect with services addressing social determinants of health, including peer support, housing, food insecurity and other community-based programs.

According to data collected by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the number of patients boarding in acute care hospitals for more than 48 to 60 hours while awaiting placement at an inpatient psychiatric facility has decreased by 59% since 2022. However, many individuals continue to experience delays in receiving placement.    

In Massachusetts, tthe Behavioral Health Treatment and Referral Platform will be used by acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, health plans, accountable care organizations, and state agencies.

“The Behavioral Health Treatment and Referral Platform is a major step in the right direction in helping to reduce continuum of care challenges and ensuring financial stability of healthcare organizations, ultimately supporting patients and making it easier for them to receive the care they need in a timely manner,” said Mike Levine, assistant secretary of MassHealth, in a statement.