The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has awarded $1 million in planning grants to 14 states as part of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program. The funding, provided through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022, aims to address the ongoing mental health and substance use crises across the United States.
The states receiving the grants are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia. By 2026, up to 10 of these states will be selected to receive enhanced Medicaid reimbursements, which will help sustain and expand behavioral health services.
“Everyone in this country who seeks help for mental health or substance use issues should be able to receive it, regardless of where they live or their ability to pay for services,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to transforming our behavioral health care system, we are working to build a better continuum of care and expanding access to mental health and substance use care for all Americans.”
Addressing the Scope of the Crisis
Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) highlights the varying scope of the mental health crisis across the country. In Colorado, 36% of adults reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in 2023. In West Virginia, over 20% of adults experienced frequent mental distress in 2021. Montana, one of the states awarded the grant, has one of the highest suicide rates in the nation, with 29.8 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020.
Substance use disorders remain a critical issue as well. Louisiana reported a drug overdose death rate of 52.6 per 100,000 people in 2021, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alaska continues to struggle with alcohol use disorder, with one of the highest rates of alcohol-induced deaths in the country.
CCBHC Model of Care
The CCBHC model mandates that clinics provide 24/7 crisis care, timely outpatient treatment, and a comprehensive range of services to meet community needs. These clinics must serve anyone seeking care, regardless of ability to pay, age, or residence. Since its establishment in 2017, the program has expanded from 67 clinics in eight states to more than 500 clinics operating in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
“The planning phase for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics will help states develop sustainable funding to expand access to care for their communities,” said Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use.
Moving Forward
The grants are designed to support states in expanding their behavioral health infrastructure and creating a sustainable funding model for these critical services. As the mental health and substance use crises continue to affect communities nationwide, the CCBHC program is seen as a key initiative to strengthen the nation’s ability to respond and provide care where it is most needed.
