Express Access: Faster, better matching to behavioral health care
Official title: Consumer-Therapist-Connector: Increasing Access to Quality Behavioral Healthcare
Funded at Outcome Referrals INC · NIH-11423655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new program aims to let adults get quicker, higher-quality behavioral health care by connecting them with therapists who fit their needs and preferences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Outcome Referrals INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Framingham, United States) |
| Project start | March 7, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $916,056 |
| NIH project number | 5R44MH132156-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults age 21 and older who are seeking outpatient behavioral health services and have experienced barriers to timely, effective care.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals who are not actively seeking therapy, those with care settings not using the system, or those with conditions unlikely to benefit from therapy matching may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on a proven matching system to reduce wait times and improve treatment impact for adults seeking behavioral health services. It will finalize, customize, and test a streamlined Express Access approach, focusing on scheduling, preferences, and features that patients care about. Through Phase I feasibility work and stakeholder input, the team will adapt the platform to real-world clinic workflows and patient needs, then pilot its use in routine care to speed access and personalize care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could start effective therapy faster and with a better therapist fit, leading to more timely relief of symptoms and improved overall well-being.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with TOP Match showed that matching patients to therapists based on measurable strengths roughly doubled improvement versus standard assignment.
Where this research is happening
-
Outcome Referrals INC
Framingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kraus, David R. — Outcome Referrals INC
- Study coordinator: Kraus, David R.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.