Hixny and New York State Office of Mental Health Expand Access to Behavioral Health Data Through PSYCKES Integration

Collaboration brings behavioral services data directly into Hixny's community health record, supporting clinical decision-making and whole-person care

ALBANY, N.Y., May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Hixny, the Healthcare Information Xchange of New York, and the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) today announced the availability of PSYCKES (Psychiatric Services and Clinical Knowledge Enhancement System) data directly within Hixny's snapshot application. The integration is the result of a collaborative effort between the two organizations to make behavioral health information more accessible to providers across New York State.

The PSYCKES database is managed by OMH and is designed to give clinicians a line of sight into a patient's behavioral health history. The tool supports clinical decision-making, improves care quality, and helps facilitate more informed conversations around safe and effective treatment.

Through the joint initiative, providers no longer need to navigate to a separate system to access PSYCKES data. When viewing a patient's community health record in Hixny, a dedicated section automatically surfaces available PSYCKES information for consented clients, making behavioral health context as accessible as any clinical part of a patient health record. With SMART on FHIR technology, Hixny's app is available directly within many major EHR systems—including Athena, Cerner, Epic, Medent and more—giving providers access to PSYCKES data at their fingertips.

"This collaboration with the Office of Mental Health reflects our shared commitment to putting the right information in front of providers at the right moment," said Mark McKinney, CEO of Hixny. "When behavioral health data lives alongside clinical health information, care teams are better equipped to make thoughtful, informed decisions."

"Streamlining secure access to PSYCKES behavioral health data into Hixny's clinical system will help to break down the silos between general medical and behavioral health care services, and support a wholistic, integrated and person-centered care approach,"

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. "This collaboration will help providers access critical behavioral health information and improve the delivery of care."

Access to PSYCKES through Hixny is granted by OMH to all eligible users within participating organizations. As with all protected health information, providers are bound by their organization's consent policies and may only access records for patients with whom a treatment relationship is established.

With consent, or in case of a clinical emergency, crisis service and other providers can identify behavioral health care coordinators and their contact information including Health Home Care Management programs, Care Coordination Organizations, Assertive Community Treatment teams, Intensive Mobile Treatment teams, Assisted Outpatient Treatment, Shelter and Residential services contacts, among providers who are actively working with the client. In addition, PSYCKES notifications identify adults and children with complex behavioral health needs, and those eligible for high intensity outpatient services. In June, additional information will identify individuals who need to recertify eligibility for Medicaid to support continued access to health care and Medicaid insurance.

In addition to PSYCKES data, Hixny users benefit from clinical decision support features within Hixny, including access to end of life care preferences through medical orders for life sustaining treatment, care reminders that flag actionable items tied to HEDIS measures—such as cancer screenings and blood pressure monitoring—and an interactive social needs screening tool that is approved for use under New York State's 1115 Medicaid waiver and validated by NCQA. Based on the success of this Hixny-OMH collaboration, OMH will expand PSYCKES integration to other interested health information exchange organizations in New York State.

Providers can access PSYCKES data through Hixny today. For more information, contact the Hixny team at [email protected] or (518) 640-0021.

About Hixny
Hixny is a nonprofit health information exchange serving communities across New York State. As a qualified entity within the Statewide Health Information Network of New York (SHIN-NY), Hixny connects healthcare providers, health systems, payers, community organizations and patients by enabling the secure exchange of health information. Its technology solutions include a range of clinical and care coordination tools that help providers deliver more informed, timely, and whole person care. Hixny partners with a diverse group of organizations to expand interoperability across the region, guided by a commitment to collaboration and improved health outcomes.

About the New York State Office of Mental Health

The New York State Office of Mental Health oversees a large multi-faceted mental health system serving nearly 800,000 individuals annually. This includes operating 23 psychiatric centers, overseeing the Nathan S. Kline Institute and New York Psychiatric Institute, and certifying more than 6,500 programs operated by local governments and nonprofit agencies. The agency also promotes the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a particular focus on providing hope and recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.

Media Contact:
Katie See
Director of Marketing & Communication, Hixny
[email protected]

SOURCE Hixny