CCBHCs Program Extended into September

The Medicaid demonstration program for certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) that was originally slated to expire at the end of June has been granted an extension to continue into September.

The U.S. Senate unanimously approved by voice vote an amendment to H.R. 3253, the Empowering Beneficiaries, Ensuring Access, and Strengthening Accountability Act, which extends the CCBHCs program that operates in eight states to Sept. 13.

“We’re thrilled to see the program continue,” says Rebecca Farley David, vice president of policy and advocacy for the National Council. “This is indicative of Congress’s recognition that CCBHCs have achieved terrific early results and deserve to have additional time to continue their purpose to their communities.”

Enacted in 2014, the CCBHCs program was conceived to provide a range of mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, and in return, receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates based on their anticipated costs of expanding services, according to National Council. The first clinics for the two-year pilot program opened in Oklahoma and Oregon opened in March 2017, with clinics in six additional states following in July 2017. Earlier this year, Congress approved an extension for the Oklahoma and Oregon clinics to bring their timeline of operation in line with the other participating clinics.

Farley David says that while National Council had hoped for a longer extension, it remains hopeful that that still becomes a reality when Congress returns to a broader Medicaid package in the fall.

“Congress has now repeatedly voted to extend this initiative, so we have every reason to hope that when they come back to the issue in September, we’ll see a longer-term extension,” she says.

“This program is showing that when you provide the financial structure for clinics to address their full community needs, they can achieve results that would be unfathomable otherwise. We’re so happy to see this vote by Congress to show support for the program, and we hope they vote again in September for it to continue for the next two or more years.”