CHICAGO, Ill. (WAND) – 19 Certified Behavioral Health Clinics will begin offering mental health care and substance use treatment services through a new model under a federal Medicaid Demonstration Program.
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) announced on Thursday that the new model will significantly increase access to behavioral health care, including crisis care, for individuals who may otherwise face challenges accessing the services they need.
“Thanks to the close collaboration with the participating providers and our sister agency, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), enhanced behavioral health services are now available to individuals at 19 locations across Illinois,” said HFS Director Elizabeth Whitehorn. “Access to high-quality behavioral health services is critical, and this program will help us to serve individuals who are in crisis and have previously struggled to access the services they need to be well.”
Earlier this year, Illinois was chosen as one of ten states to participate in the federal CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program, aimed at expanding and improving access to coordinated services.
The CCBHC Demonstration Program offers Medicaid reimbursement for the total cost of services provided by Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) at higher rates than what community mental health centers previously received for Medicaid clients.
Participating clinics must adhere to federal standards and are required to serve anyone who seeks care for mental health or substance use issues, regardless of age, ability to pay, or location.
“The extensive collaboration between HFS, other state departments, the trade associations and Illinois’ behavioral health providers to implement the CCBHC as a model of care is phenomenal,” said Chief Behavioral Health Officer, David T. Jones. “The CCBHC’s across 19 locations will expand capacity to access, quality mental health and substance use disorder services, with the goal of improving integrated health outcomes throughout the state.”
CCBHCs provide tailored services, including 24/7 crisis support and routine outpatient care within 10 business days.
The 19 CCBHCs now providing services are:
Trilogy Inc., ChicagoLutheran Social Services of IL, ChicagoHuman Resources Development Institute, ChicagoThresholds, ChicagoThresholds, WoodstockRosecrance Incorporated, ChampaignRosecrance Incorporated, RockfordHeritage Behavioral Health Center, DecaturPreferred Family Healthcare, Inc., QuincyTransitions of Western IL, Inc., QuincyCenterstone of Illinois, Inc., AltonChestnut Health Systems, Inc., Granite CityChestnut Health Systems, Inc., BellevilleEcker Center for Behavioral Health, ElginLink & Option Center, Inc., South HollandBridgeway, Inc., GalesburgRobert Young Center, MolineRobert Young Center, Rock IslandSinnissippi Centers, Inc., Dixon
“We at Thresholds are so excited to officially launch two of our CCBHC locations under the state pilot program,” said Thresholds President & CEO Mark Ishaug. “Our CCBHCs in McHenry County and Chicago’s Ravenswood community are critical community resources that allow us to broaden both the populations we serve and the types of services we offer. Further, this new model bolsters the financial stability of community providers that will further strengthen our state’s mental health safety net.”
“Heritage Behavioral Health Center is honored to be one of the 19 agencies participating in Illinois’ CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration as this model supports our mission to advance behavioral healthcare focusing on access to care for anyone, anytime, anywhere”, said Heritage Behavioral Health Center President & CEO Mary Garrison.
In addition to Illinois, Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, and Vermont were chosen to take part in the four-year federal CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration this year.
Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, and Oregon are already part of the program.
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