Nebraska is currently in the process of implementing CCBHCs which will provide around-the-clock crisis care to any Nebraskan who may need mental health or SUD assistance.
In May 2023, Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 276, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Act into law. Implementing CCBHCs throughout Nebraska will increase access to care, enable providers to incorporate evidence-based practices, and further establish care coordination.
A timeline of Nebraska's CCBHC implementation can be found here.
With a comprehensive approach to integrated physical and behavioral health services, CCBHCs offer a wide range of support for Nebraska's families.
- Around-the-Clock Crisis Support: Crisis services provide the necessary care in the most supportive and cost-effective way possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Mobile crisis teams are expected to arrive within one hour (two hours in a rural setting) of being notified to ensure Nebraskans get the care they need when they need it most.
- Easy-Access Mental Health and Substance Use Care: Outpatient mental health and substance use services offer easy access to care while cutting down on wait times and ensuring necessary support, regardless of a person's location or financial situation.
- Tailored Treatment Plans: No two journeys to wellness are the same. Person-centered treatment plans fit the unique needs of each person and their family.
- Specialized Care for Veterans and Military Personnel: Using community-based mental health care, CCBHCs provide support to meet the needs of veterans and active-duty military members.
- Peer Support for Families: Community and family support can greatly improve health outcomes. Peer family support and counselor services offer additional support and guidance to families in similar situations.
- Care and Case Management: Navigating the healthcare system can be daunting, dedicated care and case management teams help connect people with continuing resources.
- Whole Health Approach: Health is more than just physical or mental well-being. Outpatient Primary Care Screening and Monitoring helps coordinate care with local providers and community support services.
- Comprehensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation: Building resilience and wellness is a necessary step in recovery. Rehabilitation services and support help people build healthy skills they can use on a daily basis.
- Early Detection and Support: Prevention is key to improving health outcomes. Screening, diagnosis, and risk assessment services help identify and address potential issues early on, reducing the risk of chronic conditions and improving overall well-being.
History of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) represent a significant advancement in the approach to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) services in the United States. These clinics emerged as a result of the Excellence in Mental Health Act, signed into law in 2014 as part of an effort to improve the nation's mental health system.
Following the publication of Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act in 2014, select states began testing new strategies for delivering and reimbursing community mental health services. In 2016, eight states were selected to participate in a two-year CCBHC demonstration. This demonstration laid the groundwork, and later expanded mental health and substance use disorder service offerings, for CCBHCs across the country.
Beginning in 2019, four demonstration states submitted State Plan Amendments (SPAs) to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS granted permanent Medicaid funding to the states, allowing those states to certify new CCBHCs.
States that have fully implemented CCBHCs, report reductions in law enforcement involvement, hospital emergency department usage, and admissions to inpatient care.
Resources
Stakeholder Meetings
Nebraska Medicaid held a town hall on April 24, 2024, for providers interested in becoming a CCBHC. A copy of the presentation can be found here. Additional meeting dates and times will be announced in the future.
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