The Truth About ICANotes EHR: A Behavioral Health Provider's Review
Jul 21, 2025
Paperwork taking up more time than patient care? ICANotes EHR provides a solution built for behavioral health professionals who need quick and specialized documentation tools. This web-based system makes your clinical workflow smoother while keeping HIPAA compliance intact.
ICANotes behavioral health EHR makes documentation easier with its smart approach. The system creates narrative notes automatically from your selections, which cuts down paperwork time by a lot. The pricing works well for practices of all sizes - prescribing professionals pay $213/month while non-prescribing clinicians pay $75/month. Users love its customizable charting tools made specifically for mental health providers.
This detailed review shows how this cloud-based solution fits into daily practice. You'll learn about its features and what actual users think about the system. Running a mid-sized behavioral health clinic or a large practice? You need to know how ICANotes EHR can make your documentation simpler and reduce your administrative work to make the right choice.
What is ICANotes EHR and Who is it For?
ICANotes is a detailed electronic health record system built specifically for behavioral health specialty. A clinical psychiatrist developed this reliable EHR solution that brings over 26 years of industry experience to support mental health providers with purpose-built tools [1].
Designed for behavioral health professionals
ICANotes stands apart from general medical EHRs because it meets the unique documentation needs of mental health practitioners. The system understands that behavioral health therapy needs complex narratives, evolving treatment goals, and tailored care [2]. The platform provides fully configured clinical content for all mental health disciplines and settings. Clinicians can add custom content based on their specific needs [3].
ICANotes works well in these behavioral health settings:
Outpatient clinics
Inpatient facilities
Psychiatric hospitals
Substance abuse treatment centers
Eating disorder clinics
Residential treatment facilities [4]
Cloud-based and HIPAA-compliant
The web-based platform gives you easy access without compromising security [3]. Your patients' sensitive information stays protected through strict HIPAA compliance [3]. The ONC-certified system helps providers direct their way through the complex regulatory requirements of behavioral health [3].
Common user types: therapists, psychiatrists, counselors
The platform provides specialized tools for different behavioral health disciplines [5]:
Psychiatrists: Accessible tools for medication management, psychiatric assessments, and progress notes with integrated e-prescribing capabilities
Counselors and Therapists: Simple documentation processes for assessments, treatment plans, and progress notes
Social Workers: Detailed case management tools from scheduling through billing
Nurse Practitioners: Customizable templates for psychiatric assessments and medication management
Psychologists: Flexible templates for psychological assessments and treatment planning
Group Therapists: Optimized management of group therapy sessions with individual progress tracking [5]
The system's innovative menu-driven approach lets clinicians create detailed, tailored notes with minimal typing [5]. Practitioners can write detailed progress notes with full documentation, diagnosis information, treatment plans, and service codes in just three minutes [5].
Key Features of ICANotes Behavioral Health EHR
ICANotes provides a powerful set of tools made specifically for behavioral health practices. Here's what makes this system different from other behavioral health EHRs.
Charting and documentation tools
ICANotes EHR excels with its specialized documentation features. You can create detailed clinical documentation in as little as 2-3 minutes using pre-configured templates for various note types—with minimal typing [6]. The menu-driven interface creates detailed narrative notes automatically when you click through pre-configured options, which saves time [7]. These templates are built for behavioral health and cover progress notes, SOAP notes, treatment plans, assessments, and discharge summaries [7].
Patient portal and self-scheduling
The system offers Basic and Premium Patient Portal options. The Basic Portal (included in monthly fees) lets patients communicate securely with providers and access their medical history [8]. The Premium Portal upgrade adds online intake features, electronic forms, medication management tools, and appointment scheduling [8]. The system also has customizable text message appointment reminders that help reduce no-shows [8].
Billing and insurance claim management
ICANotes' integrated billing system makes financial operations easier. You can create statements, superbills, and CMS forms in one place [9]. The system submits claims electronically to insurance payers or clearinghouses [9]. You can also track payments, manage client balances, and create financial reports [9].
Telehealth and remote care
The HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform merges naturally with the EHR [2]. Providers start sessions right from a client's chart or appointment and send patients a secure link by text or email [2]. The platform has practical features like a virtual waiting room, screen sharing, group sessions, and note-taking during telehealth visits [2].
Secure messaging and document management
A fully HIPAA-compliant messaging system helps providers and patients communicate securely [10]. Staff members coordinate care through internal messaging [10]. The document management system replaces paper records and gives quick access to combined patient information, allowing multiple users to work securely at the same time [11].
How ICANotes EHR Works in Daily Practice
You need to understand the daily workflow to get the most out of ICANotes in your behavioral health practice. The system's user-friendly design takes you through each step of patient care, from the original setup to documentation and billing.
Setting up your account and importing data
ICANotes makes the transition process simple with its data import features. The system lets you upload patient demographics through their template spreadsheet at no extra cost when switching from another EHR. You'll need a minimum of 20 patients to import. The processing takes about 5-10 business days. You'll get an email when your import is ready.
Your account settings need configuration before seeing patients. This means adding your billing information, setting up service locations, and creating lists of procedure codes and insurance payers you use often.
Using templates for faster note-taking
The real power of ICANotes lies in its pre-configured, customizable templates built for behavioral health documentation. These user-friendly, menu-driven templates help you create detailed notes with less typing. Many clinicians finish their documentation during patient sessions.
The system has templates for different documentation styles like SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) and BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan). Each template automatically adds key clinical elements such as symptoms, diagnosis, risk assessments, and treatment plans.
Managing appointments and reminders
The calendar system comes with different views (day/week/month) and color-coding to track appointments. You can:
See multiple clinicians' schedules at once
Keep track of no-shows and cancelations
Mark provider vacation time
Take copays when patients arrive
The system also has customizable appointment reminders through email and text messages to reduce missed appointments. You can set these reminders at specific times, like 12 hours and 3 hours before the appointment.
Generating reports and submitting claims
The Billing/Productivity Report helps you prepare and submit claims electronically. The system shows missing information with highlighted fields and gives you quick buttons to fill these gaps. You can prepare and submit claims in batches directly to clearinghouses. The system keeps a detailed claim history log that shows exact submission dates, times, and claim status.

ICANotes Pricing, Plans, and User Feedback
The right understanding of ICANotes' cost structure and user experiences will help you choose what works best for your behavioral health practice. Let's get into the pricing plans, optional features, and real feedback from users of this specialized EHR.
Breakdown of full-time and part-time pricing
ICANotes has tiered pricing that varies based on clinician type and usage level:
Full-Time Non-Prescribing: $75.00-$75.30/month with unlimited notes [3]
Part-Time Non-Prescribing: $45.00-$46.30/month with 60 notes/month [3][12]
Full-Time Prescribing: $155.00-$155.30/month with unlimited notes [3][12]
Part-Time Prescribing: $105.00-$105.30/month with limited notes [3][12]
Notes Only: $55.00/month [3]
The first non-clinical user comes free, and additional users cost $25.00/month [3]. ICANotes+ needs a 3-month commitment at first, then you can cancel with 15 days' notice [13].
Add-ons like telehealth and e-prescribing
You can enhance your service with these optional features:
E-Prescribing: $58.00/month per provider plus a one-time $99.00 activation fee [14]
Insurance Billing: Starting at $33.00/month for up to 100 claims [3]
What users like and dislike (based on ICANotes reviews)
ICANotes gets an average rating of 4.0-4.1 out of 5 stars on review platforms [3][15].
Users love:
The specialized behavioral health focus [15]
Time-saving documentation tools [16]
Reliable and consistent performance [3]
Some challenges include:
System outages or freezing at times [15]
New users need time to learn the system [5]
Limited customization options [5]
Support and training options available
ICANotes gives you complete support through:
24/7 Phone Support: Available at 866-847-3590 [4]
Text Support: Available at 866-302-1160 [4]
Email Support: via ticket@icanotes.com [4]
Chat Support: Available through website [4]
Your monthly subscription includes training resources at no extra cost [17]. You can choose from individual online training sessions, video tutorials, a getting-started guide, and a knowledge base [17]. The exceptional training programs stand out as a key benefit for many users [15].
Conclusion
Behavioral health practices need the right EHR system to streamline operations and maintain quality care. ICANotes emerges as a solution built specifically for mental health providers' documentation needs. Its specialized charting tools and menu-driven approach help create complete clinical notes in minutes instead of hours.
The system's flexible pricing makes it available to practices of any size - from small private clinics to large behavioral health facilities. You can pick from tiered plans for both prescribing and non-prescribing clinicians that match your budget and needs.
Most users face a learning curve when they start using the system. However, the complete training resources and quick-response support team help overcome the original challenges. Completing documentation during patient sessions instead of later ended up creating more accurate records and a better work-life balance.
ICANotes delivers on its core promise to cut down administrative work while following healthcare regulations. The HIPAA-compliant platform protects patient's sensitive information and offers useful features like telehealth integration, patient portals, and electronic claims submission. These tools let you focus more on patient care and less on paperwork.
Take time to evaluate ICANotes through a demo or trial period. This helps you see how its behavioral health features fit your practice's workflow. The right EHR partner should do more than digitize records - it should improve your ability to provide effective, well-documented behavioral healthcare.
Key Takeaways
ICANotes EHR is specifically designed for behavioral health professionals, offering specialized documentation tools that can transform your practice efficiency and patient care quality.
• Rapid Documentation: Create comprehensive behavioral health notes in just 2-3 minutes using menu-driven templates with minimal typing required.
• Flexible Pricing Structure: Plans start at $45/month for part-time non-prescribing clinicians and $75/month for full-time users, with specialized tiers for prescribing professionals.
• Behavioral Health Focus: Unlike generic EHRs, ICANotes was built by a psychiatrist specifically for mental health providers with 26+ years of industry expertise.
• Integrated Practice Management: Combines charting, billing, telehealth, patient portals, and secure messaging in one HIPAA-compliant cloud-based platform.
• Strong User Satisfaction: Maintains 4.0+ star ratings with users praising time-saving features, though some report initial learning curves and occasional system issues.
The system's ability to generate detailed narrative notes automatically from field selections makes it particularly valuable for busy behavioral health practices seeking to reduce administrative burden while maintaining thorough documentation standards.
FAQs
How does ICANotes EHR differ from general medical EHR systems?
ICANotes is specifically designed for behavioral health professionals, offering specialized documentation tools and templates tailored to mental health practices. Unlike general EHRs, it allows for complex narratives and personalized care plans common in behavioral health therapy.
What are the pricing options for ICANotes EHR?
ICANotes offers tiered pricing based on clinician type and usage. Full-time non-prescribing clinicians start at $75/month, while full-time prescribing professionals start at $155/month. Part-time and notes-only options are also available at lower rates.
Can ICANotes EHR help reduce the time spent on documentation?
Yes, ICANotes features a menu-driven interface that generates detailed narrative notes automatically as you click through pre-configured options. Many clinicians report being able to complete comprehensive progress notes in as little as 2-3 minutes.
Does ICANotes offer telehealth capabilities?
Yes, ICANotes provides a HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform that integrates seamlessly with the EHR. It includes features like a virtual waiting room, screen sharing, and the ability to document during telehealth sessions.
What kind of support and training does ICANotes provide?
ICANotes offers comprehensive support options including 24/7 phone support, text and email support, and live chat. Training resources are included in the monthly subscription and feature individual online training sessions, video tutorials, a getting-started guide, and a knowledge base.
References
[1] - https://www.findemr.com/resources/therapynotes-vs-icanotes/
[2] - https://www.icanotes.com/telehealth/
[3] - https://www.choosingtherapy.com/icanotes-review/
[4] - https://www.icanotes.com/support/
[5] - https://softwarefinder.com/emr-software/icanotes/reviews
[6] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/charting/
[7] - https://www.ifaxapp.com/emr-and-ehr/what-is-icanotes-ehr/
[8] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/practice-management/patient-portal/
[9] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/practice-management/
[10] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/practice-management/messaging/
[11] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/practice-management/document-management/
[12] - https://www.findemr.com/icanotes-ehr-software
[13] - https://www.icanotes.com/pricing/
[14] - https://www.icanotes.com/features/charting/psychiatry/e-prescribing/
[15] - https://www.softwareadvice.com/medical/icanotes-ehr-software-profile/reviews/
[16] - https://www.tameyourpractice.com/blog/icanotes-review/
[17] - https://www.icanotes.com/training/