In a series of posts, Myers and Stauffer will highlight parts of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. that can have tremendous impact on delivery and financing of services by state health and human services programs.
Now, under the ARPA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will make available an additional $420 million for grants to communities and community organizations to become a CCBHC. This additional funding provides states the opportunity to improve the behavioral health of their citizens by: providing community-based mental and substance use disorder services; advancing integration of behavioral health with physical health care; assimilating and utilizing evidence-based practices on a more consistent basis; and promoting improved access to high quality care[1]
As required by statute, CCBHCs provide a continuum of coordinated services and supports, including rapid-response 24/7 crisis services in supportive settings, peer and family support, specific support for active and veteran military, targeted case management, clinical outpatient psychotherapeutic interventions, and timely screening and assessment of behavioral health and physical needs.[2] Care coordination is critical to ensuring that CCHBC services represent an improvement over existing services.[3] This integrated care approach can be especially impactful for individuals who have co-occurring diagnoses of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder or individuals with both a mental health disorder and a physical health disorder.
Entities must meet the certification criteria to become a CCBHC as established under PAMA. In order to become certified, providers must have met criteria in six areas: (1) Staffing; (2) Availability and Access to Services; (3) Care Coordination; (4) Scope of Services; (5) Quality and Other Reporting; and (6) Organizational Authority, Governance and Accreditation. States are afforded flexibility to determine how to apply the criteria to best meet the needs of their recipients. Information on the requirements to become a CCBHC can be found here: CCBHC Criteria.
The CCBHC program design promotes both effective patient-centered care through the use of care coordination and sustainability by proving a funding model that supports delivery of high-quality services. As you continue to assess how to increase access to behavioral health services for your Medicaid recipients, the CCBHC program can serve as a key program in furthering behavioral health care innovation in your state.
If you would like to hear more information about how Myers and Stauffer can help with the establishment or expansion of CCBHC services or any other part of the ARPA, please contact us.
[1] https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/1319/text
[2] https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/ccbh_clinicdemonstrationprogram_081018.pdf
[3] https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/ccbhc-criteria.pdf
Contact the Contributors:
| Jerry Dubberly, PharmD Principal jdubberly@mslc.com |
Alicia Jansen, RN Senior Manager ajansen@mslc.com |
