WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, CongresswomanDoris Matsui (D-CA) and Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IL), Angie Craig (D-MN), Marcus Molinaro (R-NY), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) introduced the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act, a bill which would provide a permanent authorization of the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) model, allowing all states to incorporate this proven model into their behavioral health care systems.
CCHBCs provide a comprehensive set of services, with an emphasis on the provision of 24/7/365 crisis care, outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment services; immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses; and care coordination including partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement, and veterans groups.
This bill would:
“I’m proud to introduce this bill to make Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics a permanent part of our behavioral health care safety net,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “As a longtime champion for getting resources and access to treatment for mental health and addiction care into our communities, I am thrilled that the CCBHC model has proven to be so effective in improving patient outcomes. Everyone should have access to mental health and substance use care when they need it – no matter where they live. This legislation would be another step forward in ensuring all patients throughout the country receive the comprehensive services they depend on.”
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are expected to play an increasingly critical role in supporting the needs of communities across Indiana and the nation,” said Congressman Bucshon. “I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that will expand upon this proven model of delivering integrated mental health and addiction treatment services to patients in need.”
“Congress must do everything we can to expand access to comprehensive mental health care for Americans – and that’s what this bipartisan legislation will help accomplish,” said Congresswoman Craig. “I’ll keep working across the aisle to ensure community behavioral health clinics have the resources they need.”
"There is limited access to mental health and substance use resources throughout our rural communities in Upstate New York,” said Congressman Molinaro. “I’m proud to co-lead such an important bill that will increase access and provide substantial funding for vital lifesaving services in our local communities."
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers are a critical, proven part of the healthcare systems currently serving our communities,” said Congressman Tonko. “I’ve been honored to work with Congresswoman Matsui to expand these lifesaving programs and am proud to once again to stand with her and our colleagues to champion bipartisan legislation that further bolsters and codifies mental and behavioral health services. I urge the House and Senate to advance this legislation without delay to deliver the resources and support our communities so desperately need.”
“Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) play an invaluable role in improving access to the full continuum of comprehensive mental health and substance use services,” said Chuck Ingoglia, National Council for Mental Wellbeing President & CEO. “The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act would allow more communities the opportunity to have a CCBHC. It would help eliminate barriers to access among those traditionally underserved, dramatically reduce wait list times so people receive care more quickly and expand the capacity of states to address the overdose crisis.”
Full text of the bill is available HERE. A one-pager on the bill is available HERE.
Congresswoman Matsui has led the effort to expand community-based access to mental health services since introducing the bipartisan Excellence in Mental Health Act, legislation that established the CCBHC Medicaid demonstration and expansion grant program in 2014. In June 2022, Congresswoman Matsui’s Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act of 2021, legislation that authorized the nationwide expansion of the CCBHC program, was signed into law as part of S. 2938, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Most recently, Congresswoman Matsui introduced legislation creating a permanent definition for CCBHC services in the Medicaid statute, which was signed into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024.
