By Selecting Seven Providers to Become Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Division of Behavioral Health selected seven providers to begin the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) certification program as an initiative to enhance access to the highest standard of mental health and substance use care.
“The CCBHC model allows a clinic to truly focus on delivering the quality of care and breadth of services a person needs” said Dr. Thomas Janousek, Director of the Division of Behavioral Health. “It focuses on reducing administrative barriers for providers, which ultimately results in better care for the individuals it serves.”
After successfully completing the certification program, the behavioral health provider will be recognized as a CCBHC in Nebraska. Providers who have been selected to begin the CCBHC program include:
- CenterPointe
- Community Alliance
- Heartland Counseling Services
- Heartland Family Services
- Lutheran Family Services
- South Central Behavioral Health Services
- The Well
Over the next year, the DHHS Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care and the DHHS Division of Behavioral Health will support and work with these seven providers to develop the services and programs needed to meet the state requirements and federal criteria determined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Programs will receive the necessary support to have their programs operating by January of 2026.
“CCBHCs offer an innovative solution by bringing comprehensive, coordinated care to our communities and addressing critical service gaps.” said Janousek, “We are truly excited to be working with such great partners to develop this program in Nebraska.”
CCBHCs offer integrated physical and behavioral health services to provide Nebraska families a comprehensive approach to support. Services offered by CCBHCs include:
- Around the clock crisis support,
- Easy access mental health and substance use care,
- Tailored treatment plans,
- Specialized care for veterans and military personnel,
- Peer support for individuals and families,
- Care and case management,
- Whole health approach, and
- Comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation.
In May 2023, Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 276, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Act, that launched the implementation of CCBHCs throughout Nebraska. This initiative is an effort to increase access to services, enable providers to incorporate evidence-based practices and further establish care coordination.
CCBHCs emerged from the Excellence in Mental Health Act, a federal law signed in 2014 to improve the nation’s mental health system. The CCBHC model ensures that clinics are providing a wide array of services, such as crisis response, medication management, psychotherapy, community support and peer support. In return, providers are allowed to participate in a re-structured payment model that better accounts for costs associated with services.
Learn more about CCBHCs at: https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/CCBHC.aspx