Malvern, Pa. (Feb. 5, 2026) — Healthmonix today announced the release of the 2026 Mental and Behavioral Health Registry (MBHR). This specialized Qualified Clinical Data Registry (QCDR), developed with the American Psychological Association, gives healthcare providers critical tools to track, report, and optimize clinical outcomes for treating mental health and behavioral disorders.
The 2026 MBHR features evidence-based measures that include assessments for anxiety, cognitive function, and patient outcomes following treatment. These measures help clinicians deliver more effective care, enhance patient safety, and align with national quality reporting standards.
The MBHR measures are built for real-world clinical environments and support care delivery across a wide range of settings including:
- Ambulatory clinics
- Hospital outpatient and inpatient
- Home care
- Long-term care and nursing home environments
- Rehabilitation facilities
- Other outpatient services
Importantly, the measures include telehealth encounters, reflecting the increasing role of virtual care in behavioral health access and continuity.
“Developed in collaboration with Healthmonix and an advisory committee of experts, the 2026 Mental and Behavioral Health Registry includes evidence-based measures designed to be meaningful for both clinicians and the patients they serve,” said Vaile Wright, Ph.D., Senior Director of Health Care Innovation at APA.
2026 key measures
Use of Anxiety Severity Measure (MBHR1)
Measures the percentage of adult patients (18+) with an anxiety disorder diagnosis who complete a standardized anxiety severity tool such as the GAD-7 or BAI during the measurement period. This measure supports consistent symptom assessment and reinforces appropriate clinical follow-up when screening indicates clinically significant anxiety severity.
Anxiety Response at 6 Months (MBHR2)
Evaluates treatment response for adults (18+) with anxiety disorders by measuring symptom improvement over time, defined as a 25% or greater reduction in GAD-7 score at 6 months (+/– 60 days) following an index visit with a positive severity score. This outcome-focused structure helps organizations monitor whether treatment is working, not simply whether screening occurred.
Trauma Screening and Re-Traumatization Prevention (MBHR19)
Promotes systematic screening for lifetime trauma exposure among adults (18+) during a 12-month measurement period, and — when trauma history is identified — screens for current PTSD symptoms using validated tools (e.g., PC-PTSD-5, PCL-5). The measure supports trauma-informed care by strengthening identification of trauma history, reducing the risk of re-traumatization, and improving context-aware clinical decision-making.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Outcome Assessment for Adults and Children (MBHR7)
Supports longitudinal symptom monitoring and outcomes tracking for patients with PTSD using validated tools appropriate to age group (PCL-5 for adults and CATS for children/adolescents). The measure emphasizes measurable improvement at 6 months (+/– 120 days), reinforcing accountability for response to treatment over time.
Differential Cognitive Assessment with Safety and Risk Counseling (MBHR20)
Measures whether patients referred for cognitive concerns receive a standardized, valid assessment of cognition and whether results are used to clarify etiology or diagnosis while also triggering counseling on safety and risks when impairment could impact day-to-day functioning. This measure reinforces the practical link between assessment results and patient safety.
Why these measures matter
Across behavioral health, a persistent gap remains between what is recommended clinically and what is measured in routine practice. MBHR measure development reflects that gap — particularly in domains such as anxiety, trauma exposure, PTSD outcomes, and cognitive safety — where traditional programs have lacked robust, specialty-relevant quality measurement.
“These measures are designed to help clinicians and organizations operationalize what we already know improves care: standardized assessment, thoughtful follow-through, and accountability for outcomes over time,” said Lauren Patrick, President and CEO of Healthmonix. “They are practical across care settings, supportive of telehealth, and built to reflect the realities of behavioral health and primary care delivery.”
Grounded in clinical guidance and evidence
The measures align with published clinical guidance and widely used validated tools, including recommendations supporting standardized anxiety assessment and the growing emphasis on trauma-informed care across clinical settings. They also reinforce the role of validated cognitive assessment in identifying safety risks and informing care planning for patients with cognitive concerns.
Supporting mental health providers with data insights
The 2026 MBHR also integrates with leading electronic health record (EHR) systems, enabling seamless data exchange and reducing reporting burden for providers. By leveraging this registry, healthcare organizations can reduce complexity, ensure compliance, and enhance overall care coordination.
About Healthmonix
Healthmonix is a leader in healthcare analytics and performance improvement, delivering end-to-end solutions that simplify regulatory reporting and empower healthcare organizations to succeed in value-based care. Through its Prism™ platform, Healthmonix unifies quality, cost, and performance intelligence to help providers navigate today’s CMS programs and confidently operate across the next generation of value-based care models as they’re implemented.
For more information about the 2026 MBHR and how Healthmonix can help your organization improve care, visit https://healthmonix.com and https://www.mbhregistry.com.
About the APA
APA is the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the U.S., with a membership of over 170,000 clinicians, researchers, educators, and students.