CONTACT
Sophia Majlessi
SophiaM@TheNationalCouncil.org
202-621-1631 (office)
February 10, 2020 – The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today released a summary of the Trump Administration’s proposed budget for FY 2021, which includes continued support for the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) program, originally established in the bipartisan Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014. CCBHCs are designed to provide a comprehensive range of mental health and substance use disorder services to vulnerable individuals in exchange for an enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rate.
The FY 2021 budget includes $906 million to extend and expand the CCBHC demonstration program. These funds will enable CCBHCs to continue offering the full range of required mental health and addiction treatment services.
“Thanks to bipartisan leadership in the U.S. Congress and from the Trump Administration, CCBHCs are leading a bold shift to increase access to high-quality mental health and addiction treatment and, in doing so, making a difference in the lives of thousands of individuals and communities across the nation.
“In an era defined by partisan differences, one thing is clear: there is broad bipartisan support across the nation and in Washington, D.C., for addressing the nation’s suicide and opioid epidemic with expanded access to mental health and substance use treatment.
“CCBHCs represent an essential and long-overdue shift in the way mental health and addiction treatment services are funded and provided. What began as a bold experiment is proving to be a compelling roadmap for the future – a future that promises to ensure more Americans have access to the health care they need.
“We applaud the White House and bipartisan leaders in Congress for their continued efforts to expand access to high-quality addiction and mental health treatment. Much work remains to ensure that every American has access to life-saving treatment available at CCBHCs and we are grateful for the bipartisan support that has brought us this far.”
About The National Council
Founded in 1969, the National Council for Mental Wellbeing is a membership organization that drives policy and social change on behalf of over 3,400 mental health and substance use treatment organizations and the more than 10 million children, adults and families they serve. We advocate for policies to ensure equitable access to high-quality services. We build the capacity of mental health and substance use treatment organizations. And we promote greater understanding of mental wellbeing as a core component of comprehensive health and health care. Through our Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program, we have trained more than 4 million people in the U.S. to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges.