Xavier Becerra United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | Official Website
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in partnership with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), has welcomed 10 new states into the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program. The newly added states—Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont—successfully developed state-level infrastructure and collaborated with providers to meet CCBHC standards.
The CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program provides sustainable funding to expand access to mental health and substance use services. This initiative supports President Biden’s Unity Agenda and the administration's efforts to address mental health and addiction crises. The program builds on previous work such as the transition to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and the addition of a new mobile crisis benefit to Medicaid.
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics have significantly improved behavioral health treatment in our country,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we are adding 10 new states to this groundbreaking demonstration across the country.”
CCBHCs must ensure access to a comprehensive range of services including 24/7 crisis services and routine outpatient care within 10 business days. They provide care coordination using evidence-based practices based on community needs assessments.
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use conditions,” said HHS Deputy Secretary Andrea Palm. “With sustainable funding, CCBHCs in participating states will now be able to connect more people to the care they need.”
The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act authorized HHS to add 10 new states every two years starting with those announced today. These states had previously received planning grants aimed at addressing behavioral health crises.
In March 2023, SAMHSA used BSCA funding to award 15 CCBHC state planning grants. The planning phase assists states in certifying clinics as CCBHCs and preparing applications for a four-year demonstration program. A notice of funding opportunity for additional planning grants is expected this summer.
“For our communities to thrive, behavioral health needs to be prioritized,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Aligned with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to mental health, CCBHCs equip communities with tools needed for challenges like substance use disorders and mental health crises.”
“We’re pleased to welcome these 10 states into the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program,” said Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use. “Expanding and improving the CCBHC model helps us make quality behavioral health care more widely available.”
CCBHCs increase access to crisis and behavioral health care in communities by reducing homelessness and substance use among those they serve while decreasing emergency room visits and hospitalizations. In September, HHS awarded $127.7 million through SAMHSA for expanding CCBHCs across the U.S.
The program reimburses through Medicaid at higher rates than community mental health centers previously received for eligible individuals ensuring comprehensive service provision rather than fragmented services driven by separate billing codes.
CCBHCs were created under Medicaid in 2017 with initial operations across eight states; today there are over 500 clinics supported largely through SAMHSA’s expansion grant program across 46 states including D.C., Puerto Rico.
For assistance or information on mental health or substance use issues call or text 988 or visit FindSupport.gov or FindTreatment.gov.
Reporters can send inquiries to media@samhsa.hhs.gov.
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