The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration Program is one step closer to being extended and expanded.
On Friday, the Senate Finance Committee announced it has reached an agreement to extend the CCBHC program by two years and add an additional 11 states to the program. However, the plan is not yet set in stone.
First, it must clear a number of hurdles before coming to fruition. The proposed legislation has to pass through the House and Senate and be signed by President Donald Trump before it becomes a law.
Still, National Council for Behavioral Health President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia is hopeful of where the program is headed.
“Expansion of the program is both a fiscally responsible decision and a compassionate response from lawmakers who understand the impact CCBHCs provide in communities across the country,” Ingoglia said in a statement. “Expansion represents a profound opportunity to help people and heal communities.”
CCBHCs are special Medicaid providers that operate in select states. Launched in 2017, the goal of CCBHCs is to offer a variety of high need services to patients, regardless of their ability to pay. In return, they receive higher-than-usual Medicaid rates to cover the cost of expanding their services.
Some CCBHCs focuses include 24-hour crisis care, evidence-based practices and care coordination.
There are currently 66 CCBHCs operating in eight demonstration states, which include Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania.
The CCBHC program was originally set to end in June 2019 but was extended. Funding is currently set to run out Dec. 20.
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