The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), recently announced the inclusion of 10 more states in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program.
This expansion marks a significant step forward in the nation’s effort to enhance mental health and substance use services, aligning with President Biden’s Unity Agenda and the broader Biden-Harris Administration’s initiatives to address the country’s mental health and addiction crises.
The newly added states – Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont – have successfully developed the required state-level infrastructure and collaborated with local providers to meet CCBHC standards. These standards ensure the provision of comprehensive mental health and substance use services, including 24/7 crisis services and timely outpatient care.
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized the transformative impact of CCBHCs on behavioral health treatment in the U.S., stating, “Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we are adding 10 new states to this groundbreaking demonstration, ensuring our CCBHCs can serve more Americans who need our help.”
The Act, signed into law by President Joe Biden, authorizes HHS to expand the program to 10 new states every two years. This addition brings the total number of states participating in the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program to 18, with the original eight states being Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are designed to provide a wide range of services to anyone seeking care for mental health or substance use conditions, regardless of their ability to pay. CCBHCs are required to offer routine outpatient care within 10 business days and maintain crisis services available around the clock. This model of care emphasizes community needs assessments, care coordination, and the incorporation of evidence-based practices.
HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm highlighted the significance of sustainable funding for these clinics, noting that it allows them to connect more individuals to necessary care. “This is another example of our commitment at HHS to transforming behavioral health and ensuring all Americans have access to behavioral health resources,” Palm said.
The expansion of the CCBHC program is a critical component of the Administration’s strategy to build a robust behavioral health system. In March 2023, SAMHSA awarded 15 state planning grants using BSCA funding to assist states in certifying clinics as CCBHCs, establishing Medicaid payment systems and preparing for a four-year demonstration program. Another round of planning grants is expected to be awarded early in Fiscal Year 2025, with 10 more states joining the program in Fiscal Year 2026.
CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure emphasized the importance of community-centered solutions like CCBHCs in addressing various societal challenges, including substance use disorders, mental health crises, housing insecurity, and public safety. “Aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to mental health, CCBHCs equip communities with the tools they need to tackle many of society’s most entrenched challenges,” she said.
As more states join the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program, the number of clinics is expected to grow, further expanding access to critical behavioral health services. Currently, over 500 CCBHCs operate across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, supported largely through SAMHSA’s CCBHC Expansion Grant program.
The CCBHC model, which ensures access to a comprehensive range of services and sustainable funding, is pivotal in transforming mental health and substance use treatment across the country. For individuals struggling with mental health or substance use issues, help is available through resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, FindSupport.gov, and the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).
By expanding the CCBHC program, the U.S. is taking significant strides towards a more equitable and effective behavioral health system, ensuring that quality care is accessible to all who need it.
Literature is ripe with classic phrases that seem timelessly apropos. For example, take the partial federal government shutdown. For days, the phrase repeated in the
Medicare, like many other insurers, often pays doctors a standardized rate based on the service they performed. Open heart surgery costs $X, a blood test
Please log in to your account to comment on this article.
Join Beth Wolf, MD, CPC, CCDS, for an in-depth webcast on the FY2025 spinal fusion MS-DRG updates. Discover key changes in DRG classification, understand impacts on documentation and CMI, and learn strategies to ensure compliance.
Join Angela Comfort, DBA, MBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, as she presents effective strategies to strengthen collaboration between CDI, coding, and quality departments in acute care hospitals. Angela will also share guidance on implementing cross-departmental meetings, using shared KPIs, and engaging leadership to foster a culture of collaboration. Attendees will gain actionable tools to optimize documentation accuracy, elevate quality metrics, and drive a unified approach to healthcare goals, ultimately enhancing both patient outcomes and organizational performance.
Optimize your outpatient clinical documentation and gain comprehensive knowledge from foundational practices to advanced technologies, ensuring improved patient care and organizational and financial success. This webcast bundle provides a holistic approach to outpatient CDI, empowering you to implement best practices from the ground up and leverage advanced strategies for superior results. You will gain actionable insights to improve documentation quality, patient care, compliance, and financial outcomes.
Enhancing outpatient clinical documentation is crucial for maintaining accuracy, compliance, and proper reimbursement in today’s complex healthcare environment. This webcast, presented by industry expert Angela Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, will provide you with actionable strategies to tackle complex challenges in outpatient documentation. You’ll learn how to craft detailed clinical narratives, utilize advanced EHR features, and implement accurate risk adjustment and HCC coding. The session also covers essential regulatory updates to keep your documentation practices compliant. Join us to gain the tools you need to improve documentation quality, support better patient care, and ensure financial integrity.
Dr. Ronald Hirsch provides critical details on the new Medicare Appeal Process for Status Changes for patients whose status changes during their hospital stay. He also delves into other scenarios of hospital patients receiving custodial care or medically unnecessary services where patient notifications may be needed along with the processes necessary to ensure compliance with state and federal guidance.
Healthcare organizations face complex regulatory requirements under the No Surprises Act and Price Transparency rules. These policies mandate extensive fee disclosures across settings, and confusion is widespread—many hospitals remain unaware they must post every contracted rate. Non-compliance could lead to costly penalties, financial loss, and legal risks. Join David M. Glaser Esq. as he shows you how to navigate these regulations effectively.
Protect your facility from unwanted audits! Join Becky Jacobsen, BSN, RN, MBS, CCS-P, CPC, CPEDC, CBCS, CEMC, and take a deep dive into both the CMS and AMA guidelines for reporting post operative pain blocks. You’ll learn how to determine if the nerve block is separately codable with real life examples for better understanding. Becky will also cover how to evaluate whether documentation supports medical necessity, offer recommendations for stronger documentation practices, and provide guidance on educating providers about documentation requirements. She’ll include a discussion of appropriate modifier and diagnosis coding assignment so that you can be confident that your billing of post operative pain blocks is fully supported and compliant.
During this RACmonitor webcast Dr. Ronald Hirsch spotlights the areas of the OIG’s Work Plan and the findings of their most recent audits that impact utilization review, case management, and audit staff. He also provides his common-sense interpretation of the prevailing regulations related to those target issues. You’ll walk away better equipped with strategies to put in place immediately to reduce your risk of paybacks, increased scrutiny, and criminal penalties.
Copyright © 2024 ICD10monitor. Powered by MedLearn Media.
Happy National Doctor’s Day! Learn how to get a complimentary webcast on ‘Decoding Social Admissions’ as a token of our heartfelt appreciation! Click here to learn more →
CYBER WEEK IS HERE! Don’t miss your chance to get 20% off now until Dec. 2 with code CYBER24
