SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited Press Release/KY3) – U.S. Senator from Missouri, Roy Blunt, is one of the senators behind a campaign to increase funding for mental health and addiction services.
Senator Roy Blunt and U.S. Senator from Michigan Debbie Stabenow, along with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra and senior HHS officials, announced that states across the country will now be able to apply for be part of Blunt and Stabenow. successful initiative to fully fund high quality mental health and addictions services through certified community behavioral health clinics.
In 2014, Blunt and Stabenow worked together to enact the Mental Health Excellence Act, creating a demonstration program that established CCBHCs. These clinics are transforming community care by setting high-quality standards of care and then funding mental health and addictions services as health care through Medicaid. This is the same successful structure used for federally licensed health centers
Ten states, including Missouri and Michigan, have been selected to be part of the mental health and addiction initiative created by the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act.
In order to receive enhanced Medicaid funding, clinics are required to provide crisis services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and to serve anyone seeking mental health or addictions care, regardless of their condition. ability to pay. Other high quality services are also required.
With the passing of the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, all states and the District of Columbia are eligible to apply for planning grants to develop CCBHCs in their states. In early 2023, 15 states will receive up to $1 million for one-year planning grants and of these, 10 will be selected to be part of the actual CCBHC program, beginning in 2024. While 10 states will join the initiative in 2024, the bipartisan Safer Communities Act allows each state to eventually join.
“Our Excellence in Mental Health demonstration program has shown that treating mental health like any other health is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the smart thing to do. said Senator Blunt. “For too long, emergency rooms and law enforcement have served as the de facto mental health care delivery system in our country. Certified Behavioral Health Community Clinics are changing that, helping people get the comprehensive behavioral health care they need, when they need it. Today’s announcement builds on the success we’ve seen in states that are currently part of the Excellence program, including Missouri and Michigan. I am grateful for Senator Stabenow’s nearly decade-long partnership in this effort and for the support of the Biden administration. Giving every state the opportunity to be part of the Excellence program is an important step that will help millions of Americans live longer, healthier and happier lives.
“Our mental health and addictions care initiative is a proven success and is transforming mental health and addictions treatment across the country. Now, every state will be able to join and ensure that above-the-neck health care is funded the same as below-the-neck health care. Senator Blunt has been a great partner with me in passing the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and with the Biden-Harris administration, help through our highly successful clinics will begin to reach people in every corner of our country, said Senator Stabenow.
“The significant expansion and improvement of CCBHCs across the United States underscores the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to improving the behavioral health of all Americans, especially in vulnerable communities,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Behavioral health is health. Period. There should be no distinction. »
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are transforming behavioral health systems one community at a time,” says Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Chief of SAMHSA. “CCBHCs extend the quality and timeliness of behavioral health help to those who need it.”
“I applaud the steps SAMHSA is taking to expand access to essential behavioral health services through this funding announcement,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Through the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, we are proud to partner with SAMHSA to expand access to essential behavioral health care.”
Certified Behavioral Health Community Clinics are required to provide a full suite of services, including 24/7/365 crisis services; outpatient mental health and addiction treatment services; immediate screenings, risk assessments and diagnostics; and coordination of care, including partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement and veterans groups.
A report by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing shows that these community clinics are improving access to high-quality mental health and addictions treatment that is making a difference in the lives of thousands of people in communities across the country.
The Department of Health and Human Services found that people receiving care at these clinics had:
72% reduction in hospitalizations
69% reduction in emergency room visits
40.7% decrease in homelessness
60.3% less time spent in prison
Additionally, 84% of these clinics already provide direct on-site services to elementary, middle and high schools or plan to do so in the future.
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