U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Clinics

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act, which would improve access to mental health services nationwide. This bill would make it easier for seniors on Medicare to get care at Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs), specialized clinics that provide mental health and substance use services. The bill would also ensure that these specialized clinics can continue to provide quality care to patients by ensuring that they receive adequate reimbursements from Medicaid.

"Everybody deserves access to mental health care, regardless of their zip code," said Senator Tina Smith. "Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers know the importance of treating the whole patient, and we need to do more to make this model of mental health care accessible and sustainable. I'm grateful to my former colleagues Senator Stabenow and Senator Blunt for laying the groundwork for this initiative. It's an honor to be its new champion in the Senate."

Minnesota currently operates 22 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) that use a recovery-oriented philosophy, supporting pathways to success for individuals recovering from mental illness and substance use disorders. CCBHCs ensure access to coordinated behavioral health, including through medication-assisted recovery - the combined use of medication and counseling - to provide effective support for recovery. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024 codified a permanent CCBHC option for states under the Medicaid program, but further action is now needed to establish CCBHCs in Medicare to allow comparable status and designated payment as other health care providers.

Specifically, The Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act would:

• Establish Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHCs) under the Medicare program;
• Authorize CCBHC expansion grants at a level that allows current grantees to continue their efforts and ensure availability of technical assistance to help the grantee clinics succeed;
• Create opportunities to better integrate physical and behavioral health care by giving CCBHCs the option to offer primary care services within their Prospective Payment System (PPS);
• Provide guidance for organizations primarily serving distinct populations, including youth, veterans, and our most vulnerable, to understand how they can meet CCBHC requirements while continuing to provide appropriate, high-quality care;
• And further enhance accountability measures for CCBHCs by establishing a national data infrastructure and repository that would expand the ability of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and Congress to track program progress and outcomes.

This legislation is also led by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

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