B2 - From Portals to Partnership: Rethinking Consumer Collaboration in Behavioral Health

Monday, April 27, 2026

2:15 PM - 3:15 PM MDT

Location: Bluebird 2E

Patient portals have long promised consumer engagement but often fall short in behavioral health. This session will highlight findings from a new national provider and consumer survey and introduce the concept of a moving from a patient portal to a more integrated consumer access hub. Grounded in a five-phase behavioral health journey framework, the hub reimagines how technology can support engagement and equity. Attendees will gain a preview of how this model could shape the future of access and engagement.

Learning Objectives:

Explore the limitations of legacy patient portals in behavioral health and articulate the case for a consumer engagement hub/platform.
Describe key gaps between the availability of patient portals and actual consumer engagement
Identify actionable strategies and technology categories (e.g., AI, peer tools, digital therapeutics) that can support equitable, whole-person care.
Explain how consumer expectations, clinical workflows, and social variables interact to shape digital engagement, and why traditional, clinician-centric portal designs often fall short.

Disclosure(s):

Jorge Petit, MD, MD: No relevant disclosure to display

Matt Kudish, LMSW, MPA: No financial relationships to disclose

Breakout Presenter(s)

Christy Winter, LMSW

Chief Product Officer
Cantata Health Solutions
Lakeway, Texas

Disclosure information not submitted.

Slides
Matt Kudish, LMSW, MPA

Principal
We Better Work
Concord, California

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose