Statement from National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia on Kentucky and Michigan as New Participants in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sophia Majlessi
SophiaM@TheNationalCouncil.org
(202) 621-1631

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 7, 2020) – National Council for Mental Wellbeing President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia today released the following statement in response the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announcing two new states, Kentucky and Michigan, will be added to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid demonstration program. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act included provisions to both extend the original CCBHC Medicaid program through November 30, 2020 and expand it to include two new states for two full years.

“Kentucky and Michigan will now join the other CCBHC demonstration states that have, for the last several years, provided integrated, evidenced-based addiction and mental health services to meet the needs of people in their communities,” said National Council President and CEO Chuck Ingoglia. “We strongly advocated for this two-state expansion because we know CCBHCs work, and it is our hope that all 50 states have the opportunity to obtain CCBHC status in the future, as outlined by the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act. The addition of Kentucky and Michigan to the CCBHC Medicaid demonstration will lower barriers to access and allow more people in more communities to receive the treatment and services they need, like medication-assisted treatment, as they cope with the disruption caused by the pandemic. By extending the demonstration to Kentucky and Michigan, Congress has acknowledged the program’s importance and the need to continue this effort, which has expanded access to high-quality addiction and mental health treatment.”

“We are excited to continue working with Congress on a long-term solution that not only provides permanent funding for existing CCBHCs, but also expands the program to additional states. 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.”

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About the National Council for Mental Wellbeing

The National Council for Mental Wellbeing is the unifying voice of America’s health care organizations that deliver mental health and substance use services. Together with our 3,326 member organizations serving over 10 million adults, children and families living with mental illnesses and addictions, the National Council is committed to all Americans having access to comprehensive, high-quality care that affords every opportunity for recovery. The National Council introduced Mental Health First Aid USA and more than 2 million Americans have been trained.