Valant EHR Review (2026)
Psychiatry-focused EHR with AI-assisted documentation and PDMP integration.
Vendor Assessment Scorecard
Weighted rubric using fit signals (deployment model, scope, pricing posture, certification, market maturity, and review rating), then calibrated to separate tiers more clearly.
Composite Score
7.2/10
Valant Overview
P&I | Patients | Insurance Tab
Overview
Valant is a cloud-based EHR and practice management platform built from the ground up for psychiatry and behavioral health. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Seattle, Valant has grown to serve more than 22,000 mental health professionals across the United States. Unlike general-purpose EHRs that bolt on behavioral health templates, or therapy-focused platforms that treat prescribing as an afterthought, Valant was designed with psychiatrists and psychiatric prescribers as the primary user persona.
That psychiatry-first orientation shows up in the product's core design decisions: integrated Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) lookups, controlled-substance e-prescribing with EPCS, structured medication management workflows, and built-in measurement-based care tools like PHQ-9 and GAD-7 outcome tracking. For prescribers who manage complex medication regimens alongside talk therapy, these are not nice-to-have features -- they are clinical necessities that most competing behavioral health EHRs simply do not offer.
In 2025-2026, Valant has leaned heavily into AI-assisted documentation, adding ambient note generation and clinical decision support tools aimed at reducing the documentation burden that drives burnout among psychiatric providers. The platform also supports group practices with multi-provider scheduling, role-based permissions, and centralized billing.
For a broader comparison of where Valant fits in the behavioral health EHR landscape, see our behavioral health EHR comparison.
Key Features
AI-Assisted Documentation
Draft notes from session audio, pre-populated fields, and suggested diagnostic codes.
PDMP Integration
In-workflow controlled substance history lookups — no separate portal needed.
E-Prescribing + EPCS
Full medication management with controlled substance prescribing and interaction checks.
Outcome Tracking
Built-in PHQ-9, GAD-7, and configurable measures tracked over time per patient.
Telehealth
HIPAA-compliant video sessions integrated with documentation workflow.
Billing & RCM
Claims submission, ERA posting, patient billing, and payment processing.
AI-Assisted Documentation
Valant's AI documentation tools can generate draft progress notes from session audio, pre-populate structured fields based on prior visits, and suggest diagnostic codes. The AI is trained on behavioral health workflows, so the output aligns with psychiatric documentation patterns rather than general medicine templates. Clinicians review and sign off on all AI-generated content before it becomes part of the medical record.
PDMP Integration
For psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who prescribe controlled substances, Valant's integrated PDMP lookup is a standout feature. Instead of logging into a separate state PDMP portal -- a step that adds friction and is often skipped under time pressure -- providers can check a patient's controlled substance history directly within the Valant prescribing workflow. This integration supports compliance with state mandates that require PDMP checks before prescribing Schedule II-V medications.
Measurement-Based Care
Valant includes built-in support for standardized outcome measures, including PHQ-9 (depression), GAD-7 (anxiety), AUDIT (alcohol use), and other validated instruments. Patients can complete screeners through the patient portal before appointments. Results are trended over time within the clinical chart, giving providers a longitudinal view of treatment response that supports value-based care reporting and payer requirements.
Medication Management & E-Prescribing
The medication management module tracks active medications, dose changes, allergies, drug-drug interactions, and refill history in a structured format. Valant supports full e-prescribing including EPCS (Electronic Prescribing for Controlled Substances), which is now required in most states. The prescribing workflow integrates with Surescripts for pharmacy routing and includes formulary checking where available.
Patient Portal & Intake
Valant's patient portal handles online scheduling, intake paperwork, consent forms, outcome measure completion, secure messaging, and billing/payment. New patients can complete demographic information and clinical questionnaires before their first appointment, reducing front-desk data entry and allowing clinicians to review history in advance.
Telehealth
The platform includes built-in HIPAA-compliant video telehealth. Patients join sessions through the patient portal without downloading additional software. The telehealth module integrates with the documentation workflow so clinicians can begin notes during or immediately after virtual visits.
Treatment Planning
Valant provides structured treatment plan templates aligned with behavioral health standards. Plans can include goals, objectives, interventions, and target dates. Treatment plans are linked to diagnoses and can be updated as clinical status changes, supporting both clinical best practices and payer documentation requirements.
Practice Management & Billing
The integrated practice management module covers scheduling, insurance verification, claims submission, ERA/EOB posting, patient statements, and reporting. Valant submits claims electronically and tracks denials, though practices with complex billing needs often still pair the platform with a dedicated billing service.
Pros
- Psychiatry-specific workflows. Built for prescribers from day one, not a therapy platform with prescribing bolted on. Medication management, dosing history, and controlled substance workflows are first-class features.
- Integrated PDMP lookups. Check controlled substance history without leaving the EHR. Reduces friction, improves compliance, and saves several minutes per prescribing encounter.
- Measurement-based care out of the box. PHQ-9, GAD-7, and other validated instruments are built in with longitudinal trending. Supports value-based care contracts and evidence-based treatment adjustments.
- AI-assisted documentation. Ambient note generation and smart templates reduce documentation time significantly. AI output is aligned with psychiatric documentation patterns rather than generic medical notes.
- Outcome tracking and reporting. Track treatment outcomes over time with standardized instruments. Useful for clinical decision-making, payer reporting, and demonstrating treatment efficacy.
- Full e-prescribing with EPCS. Handles controlled and non-controlled prescriptions electronically, with Surescripts integration, formulary checking, and drug interaction alerts.
- All-in-one platform. EHR, practice management, billing, telehealth, patient portal, and outcome tracking in a single system. Reduces the need for third-party integrations.
- Strong patient portal. Patients can complete intake forms, outcome measures, and consent documents before appointments. Secure messaging and online scheduling reduce phone calls.
- ONC-certified. Supports Promoting Interoperability reporting for practices participating in MIPS. Meets federal interoperability and security standards.
Cons
- Limited for non-psychiatric behavioral health. Practices that are purely talk-therapy (no prescribing) may find Valant's medication-heavy workflows add unnecessary complexity. TherapyNotes or SimplePractice are simpler choices for therapists.
- UI is functional but not modern. The interface gets the job done but lacks the consumer-grade polish of SimplePractice. Some users report the design feels dated, particularly in the billing and reporting modules.
- Not built for SUD treatment centers. Lacks the residential census tracking, level-of-care management, bed management, and ASAM-criteria workflows that substance use disorder facilities require. Platforms like AZZLY Rize are purpose-built for that use case.
- Steeper learning curve than competitors. The depth of clinical features means new users face a longer onboarding period compared to simpler platforms. Practices should plan for 2-4 weeks of active learning before staff are fully comfortable.
- Smaller vendor with narrower ecosystem. As a privately held, niche-focused company, Valant has fewer third-party integrations and a smaller user community than larger platforms. Practices that need extensive lab integrations or connections to hospital systems may find gaps.
- Reporting could be deeper. While outcome tracking is strong, some users report that financial and operational reporting lacks the customization and drill-down capabilities found in larger practice management systems.
Pricing
Valant does not publish exact pricing on its website. Based on publicly available data and user reports, plans generally fall in the $100 to $300 per provider per month range. Key factors that affect pricing include:
- Plan tier: Base plans include core EHR, scheduling, and documentation. Higher tiers add features like advanced reporting, AI documentation, and expanded integrations.
- Add-ons: Telehealth, PDMP integration, and EPCS may be included in higher tiers or available as add-ons depending on the plan.
- Practice size: Group practices may be able to negotiate volume discounts on per-provider pricing.
- Contract length: Annual commitments typically yield lower monthly rates than month-to-month billing.
Compared to competitors: SimplePractice starts at $49/month (but lacks prescribing features), TherapyNotes starts at $69/month (also lacks EPCS/PDMP), and enterprise behavioral health platforms like AZZLY Rize use quote-based pricing. Valant sits in the middle of this spectrum, with pricing that reflects its deeper clinical feature set for prescribers.
Who Should Use Valant
Strong Fit
- Psychiatrists and psychiatric NPs who prescribe controlled substances and need PDMP integration, EPCS, and structured medication management in a single platform.
- Psychiatric group practices with a mix of prescribers and therapists who need a unified system that handles both medication management and therapy documentation.
- Measurement-based care practices that use standardized outcome instruments as a core part of their clinical workflow and need longitudinal trending.
- Solo psychiatrists who want an all-in-one system (EHR, billing, scheduling, telehealth) without managing multiple vendor relationships.
- Practices transitioning to value-based care that need structured outcome data to meet payer reporting requirements.
Not the Best Fit
- Therapists and counselors who do not prescribe. The prescribing-focused features add complexity without value. TherapyNotes or SimplePractice are better choices.
- Substance use disorder treatment centers that need residential census tracking, bed management, ASAM-criteria workflows, and level-of-care management. AZZLY Rize is purpose-built for this.
- Large enterprise behavioral health organizations (50+ providers) that need advanced interoperability, HIE connections, and complex multi-facility management. Netsmart myAvatar is the enterprise-class option.
- Practices that prioritize UI design. If a modern, consumer-grade interface is a top priority, SimplePractice delivers a significantly more polished experience.
- Practices needing extensive third-party integrations. Valant's integration ecosystem is narrower than larger platforms. Practices that depend on lab interfaces, HIE connections, or niche clinical tools should verify compatibility before committing.
For a side-by-side breakdown of how Valant compares to other behavioral health EHR platforms, see our behavioral health EHR comparison.
Implementation
Valant is a cloud-based platform, so there is no server hardware to install or maintain. Implementation typically follows this timeline:
- Discovery and configuration (Week 1-2): Valant's implementation team works with the practice to configure templates, scheduling preferences, provider profiles, insurance payers, and fee schedules. Existing data migration (patient demographics, basic history) is scoped during this phase.
- Data migration (Week 2-4): If switching from another EHR, Valant can import structured data from common formats. The depth of migration depends on the source system. Migrating from paper-based workflows is simpler but may require manual entry of active patient records.
- Training (Week 3-5): Valant provides live training sessions covering clinical documentation, prescribing workflows, billing, and administrative functions. Most practices find that clinicians need 4-8 hours of training to become comfortable with core workflows, with additional time for advanced features like measurement-based care configuration.
- Go-live and stabilization (Week 5-6): Practices typically run a soft launch with a subset of providers before rolling out to the full team. Valant offers heightened support during the first few weeks after go-live.
Total implementation time ranges from 4 to 8 weeks for most practices. Larger group practices or those with complex data migration needs may require additional time. Valant provides a dedicated implementation specialist throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valant good for psychiatry practices?
Valant is one of the strongest EHR options for psychiatry practices. It was built specifically for psychiatric workflows, includes integrated PDMP lookups, e-prescribing with EPCS for controlled substances, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 outcome tracking, and AI-assisted note generation. Over 22,000 behavioral health professionals use the platform.
How much does Valant cost?
Valant pricing typically ranges from $100 to $300 per provider per month, depending on the plan tier and add-ons selected. The base plan includes core EHR and practice management features. Telehealth, advanced reporting, and additional integrations may increase costs. Valant does not publish exact pricing publicly, so practices should request a custom quote.
Does Valant integrate with PDMP databases?
Yes. Valant offers integrated Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) lookups directly within the prescribing workflow. This is a significant advantage for psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners who prescribe controlled substances, as it eliminates the need to log into a separate state PDMP portal before writing prescriptions.
How does Valant compare to SimplePractice and TherapyNotes?
Valant is more specialized for prescribing clinicians (psychiatrists, psychiatric NPs), while SimplePractice and TherapyNotes are stronger for therapists and counselors. Valant offers deeper medication management, PDMP integration, and EPCS that SimplePractice and TherapyNotes lack. However, SimplePractice has a more modern UI and TherapyNotes is more affordable for talk-therapy-only practices. See our full comparison for details.
Does Valant support telehealth?
Yes. Valant includes built-in telehealth functionality that is HIPAA-compliant. Patients can join video sessions through the patient portal without downloading additional software. The telehealth module integrates with the clinical documentation workflow, so notes can be started during or immediately after a virtual visit.
Is Valant ONC-certified?
Yes. Valant is ONC-certified, which means it meets the federal government's standards for health IT interoperability, security, and functionality. This certification is required for practices that participate in the Promoting Interoperability (formerly Meaningful Use) program under MIPS.
Verdict
Valant occupies a specific and defensible niche in the behavioral health EHR market: it is the strongest option for psychiatry practices and psychiatric prescribers who need medication management, PDMP integration, and EPCS in a platform that actually understands their workflow. The measurement-based care tools and AI-assisted documentation add further value for practices that want to move beyond basic charting toward data-driven treatment decisions.
The trade-offs are real. The UI is not as polished as SimplePractice. The learning curve is steeper than TherapyNotes. The platform is not designed for SUD treatment centers that need residential census and level-of-care management. And as a smaller, privately held company, Valant's integration ecosystem and long-term trajectory carry more uncertainty than those of larger vendors.
But for its target user -- a psychiatrist, psychiatric NP, or psychiatric group practice that prescribes controlled substances and wants a single platform for clinical documentation, prescribing, outcome tracking, billing, and telehealth -- Valant is one of the best-fit options available in 2026. No other behavioral health EHR at this price point matches its depth of prescriber-focused functionality.