January 2, 2025

Good morning and Happy New Year!

CONGRATULATIONS to all NYS Council members (in red font below) that recently received a conditional award to participate in the NYS-hosted CCBHC Federal Demonstration Program. The latest group of awardees will come ‘online’ on July 1, 2025. Demo cohort #2 went live on July 1, 2024, and (of course) 13 agencies in the original cohort began their journey in 2017 and are still going strong.

The NYS Council is gratified to have led the fight to expand the NYS Demo Program to this point. The vast majority of current Demo agencies, as well as those with CCBHC grants, are NYS Council members. I have attached the Financial Analysis we commissioned from HMA that (once completed) was immediately handed off to the DoH State Medicaid Director as well as representatives in the Governor’s Office, OMH and OASAS. At the time I was told that (along with our persistent advocacy) the Analysis was the difference maker that compelled the state to expand the program in last year’s executive budget bringing the number of Demos across NYS from 13 to 39 by 7/1/25.

The days ahead will be challenging given that the CCBHC federal demonstration program is scheduled to expire in September 2025. NYS needs to quickly figure out its next steps. We expect the state to file a State Plan Amendment (if it hasn’t already done so) with CMS requesting approval to move Medicaid CCBHC Demo services into the state Medicaid Plan (upon expiration of the federal demonstration program) thus making them reimbursable through the NYS Medicaid Program. Other states around the country have chosen this route to preserve the CCBHC model in their state, however not all states also preserved the PPS rate when they did so, although most did.

The major issues for us include (but are not limited to):
1) We oppose the state opting to move even one more OASAS or OMH program or service into the state’s Medicaid managed care program. Right now CCBHC Demo services are billed to Fee For Service (FFS) Medicaid meaning that MCOs are not involved. We all know how irresponsible it would be for the state to turnover reimbursement for these or any other new services to health plans given their track record of delaying and denying timely and full reimbursement. We need to get out of this mess once and for all.

2) CCBHC Demo services must continue to be reimbursed utilizing a Prospective Payment System (PPS) rate methodology. Important Clarification: The PPS rate is NOT a true cost based rate given the fact that this rate methodology does not factor in care provided to New Yorkers with commercial insurance, nor does it cover the full cost of care for services to New Yorkers with no insurance although we were successful in compelling the state to establish an Indigent Care Pool to address some of the costs associated with providing this care. Importantly, all CCBHC Demo agencies MUST serve any New Yorker who seeks care from the Demo, regardless of insurance type.

3) NYS should expand the CCBHC program to include any willing (and eligible) agency. Full Stop.

4) NYS needs a plan to address the possibility that funding of the SAMHSA CCBHC grants (not the Demo) that have helped increase access to care around the state, could end. State leaders must identify a sustainability plan for preserving the numerous positive impacts associated with implementation of the CCBHC model across New York.

December 27, 2024
NEW YORK STATE ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR 13 CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS
Nearly $3.5 Million in Start-Up Funding to Triple the Number of Clinics Statewide; Provide Comprehensive Mental Health Care and Addiction

The New York State Office of Mental Health today announced $3.5 million in conditional start-up funding to establish 13 new Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics to provide integrated mental health and substance use care and help close gaps in coverage for New Yorkers regardless of their ability to pay. Administered in partnership with the state Office of Addiction Services and Supports, these awards will add six new locations downstate and seven upstate, tripling the number of clinics and greatly expanding access to person-centered, trauma-informed care for individuals experiencing mental health or addiction issues.

“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics provide a place where New Yorkers can access integrated substance use, mental health, and physical health services in one convenient location,” OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said. “By expanding these clinics statewide, we can greatly improve access to these services and address gaps that exist in our system of care. Governor Hochul’s ongoing commitment to mental health care is ensuring everyone in our state can access critical services when and where they need them.”

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics provide comprehensive services and coordinate care across behavioral, physical health, and social service systems. These clinics offer care to any individual needing assistance for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age.

First year conditional start-up funding of $265,000 was awarded to 13 service providers to establish clinics in six upstate counties, four in New York City and two on Long Island. The new sites will join 26 established clinics, which now provide walk-in, immediate integrated mental health and substance use disorder services for roughly 130,000 individuals of all ages and insurance status.

In New York City and on Long Island, conditional start-up funding was awarded to:

Jewish Board in Staten Island
Federation of Organization in Suffolk County
The Child Center of New York in Queens
Pesach Tikvah Hope Development in Brooklyn
Metropolitan Center for Mental Health in Manhattan
Family & Children’s Association in Nassau and Suffolk counties

In areas upstate, these conditional awards were provided to:

Family Counseling Services of Cortland in Cortland County
CASA Trinity in Livingston County
FLACRA in Yates County
Access Supports for Living in Ulster County
Family Counseling Center of Fulton County, Inc. in Fulton County
Credo Community Center Treatment of Addictions/Thrive Wellness and Recovery in Jefferson County
Horizon Health Services in Niagara County

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics offer access to 24-hour mobile crisis teams, emergency crisis intervention, and crisis stabilization; screening and assessments; patient-centered treatment planning; and outpatient mental health and substance use services. These facilities also help connect individuals to outpatient primary care services and any other specialized services that may be needed, offering access to screening and monitoring; targeted case management; psychiatric rehabilitation services; peer and family support services; and intensive community-based mental health care for veterans and members of the armed services.

“We have worked closely with the Office of Mental Health to address mental health and addiction services by expanding treatment options, enhancing workforce supports, and implementing new initiatives to ensure that those impacted can access the services they need,” Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “These new facilities are the latest step in implementing a nation-leading system of care here in New York State and will offer New Yorkers another option to find the help and support that they need.”

With the first 13 sites established in New York in 2017, Governor Hochul’s expanded funding for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics statewide by $14.7 Million in her FY 2024 budget. In July, an additional 13 clinics were certified, effectively doubling their number statewide.

The clinic expansion is part of Governor Hochul’s $181.6 million investment to dramatically expand outpatient services, which was included in her landmark $1 billion plan to strengthen New York State’s mental health care system. The latest awards are part of a phased expansion to certify 26 clinics by July 2025.

This includes expanding outpatient community-based services, creating new supportive housing units to serve New Yorkers with mental illness, and building-out programs that have a demonstrated record of success. The plan also builds on prior investments made under Governor Hochul’s leadership, helping to close gaps and ensure the system adequately serves the mental health care needs of all New Yorkers in crisis, including traditionally hard-to-reach populations.