The supply of behavioral health providers has struggled in recent years to keep up with increased access to and demand for services. A Minimum Data Set (MDS) is a potential data collection solution for improved workforce planning needed to address the shortage. However, more information is needed about the efficacy and feasibility of using MDS to collect information about behavioral health providers.

This report describes 3 studies conducted for the purpose of testing 3 different kinds of MDS implementation methods, 1for each of 3 different specialties of behavioral health providers (a mix of behavioral health occupations, social workers, and marriage and family therapists) to collect workforce data and to evaluate respondents’ willingness to disclose certain kinds of information to certain groups.