What are Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)

What are Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)?

The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Act demonstration established a federal definition and criteria for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). CCBHCs are designed to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals. In return, CCBHCs receive an enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rate based on their anticipated costs of expanding services to meet the needs of these complex populations. They must directly provide (or contract with partner organizations to provide) comprehensive care, with an emphasis on 24-hour crisis care, evidence-based practices, care coordination with local primary care and hospital partners, and integration with physical health care.

CCBHCS and the Sequential Intercept Model

CCBHCs are well-positioned to provide support to law enforcement, jails, courts, and other justice system partners at each stage of the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM).

The Future of CCBHCs in Illinois

Illinois has applied to participate in SAMHSA's 2024 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Demonstration Implementation program. If selected to participate, the Demonstration will establish at a minimum two new CCBHC sites (one rural and one urban) to continue learning how CCBHCs could impact the state's service delivery system. Illinois anticipates SAMHSA will report out the awards to the 2024 CCBHC Demonstration Implementation program in early summer.

Learn more here: National Judicial Task Force to Examine State Courts' Response to Mental Illness - 2021

Current CCBHCs in Illinois