CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) — The Mountain State has been chose as one of ten states to take part in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program.
According to a press release, the program is a federal initiative meant to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder serves throughout West Virginia.
This selection represents a significant opportunity for West Virginia to strengthen and expand access to behavioral health services across the state. Participation in the CCBHC Demonstration Program will help support a more coordinated, comprehensive, and sustainable behavioral health system for West Virginians, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Christina Mullins | Acting Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Human Services
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The program underwent expansion through Section 11001 of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 and is administered through the collaboration of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), the release stated.
Federal officials acknowledged West Virginia for finishing the ground work needed to put into place a strong demonstration program throughout the state, such as “planning efforts related to clinic certification, service delivery, and payment systems.”
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are designed to allow for a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services whether or not an individual is able to pay, the release noted. The design underscores integrated care, crisis response services, care coordination, and evidence-based treatment to better the outcome for those that utilize these options.
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Taking part in the program raises the federal match rate for Medicaid in regards to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic services, the release stated. The broadened funding structure will bolster the long-term sustainability of behavioral health access and services throughout the state, as well as prolonged investment in community-based treatments.
To find a local CCBHC or to learn more regarding the ongoing efforts and expansion, visit the West Virginia Department of Human Services’ Bureau for Behavioral Health website.
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