Funding for CCBHCs in 8 States Temporarily Extended Again

Congress’s last-minute passage of a temporary government-wide spending bill on Thursday will extend funding for 66 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in eight states through Dec. 20. The bill was signed late Thursday by President Donald Trump.

CCBHCs provide mental health and substance use disorder treatment services, and in return, receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates based on their anticipated costs of expanding services. Thursday’s vote extends funding for CCBHCs in the eight states selected for the original Medicaid demonstration program: Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon and Pennsylvania.

“Today’s vote is nothing short of a lifeline to the thousands of people who rely on Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) for life-saving care,” National Council president and CEO Chuck Ingoglia said in a news release. “CCBHCs have proven their value at expanding access to addiction care and reducing overdose deaths, suicides and psychiatric hospitalization in their communities. They are also providing 24/7 crisis care along with support for law enforcement officers responding to people in crisis. 

Ingoglia added in his statement that while Thursday’s vote keeps the clinics active for now, National Council hopes to see Congress secure long-term funding to stabilize the program and allow it to expand into additional states.

Editor's note: This story was updated Friday, Nov. 22 to indicate that the bill had been signed by the president.