Access and Availability

Certified Community Behavioral Health Centers (CCBHC) will serve any individual in need of care, regardless of ability to pay. The CCBHC will serve the 'whole person' by offering person-centered and family-centered care

CCBHCs provide outpatient behavioral health services and primary care screenings and monitoring for children, adults and families with the goals to provide:

• Community-based mental and substance use disorder services.

• Combined behavioral health and physical health care with no wrong door entry to services.

• Evidence-based practices.

• Improved access to high-quality care.

• Care coordination and case management to address all needs of the individual.

• Better overall health outcomes.

The CCBHC provides a safe, functional, clean, and welcoming environment, for consumers and staff, conducive to the provision of services identified in program requirement 4.

The CCBHC provides outpatient clinical services during times that ensure accessibility and meet the needs of the consumer population to be served, including some nights and weekend hours.

The CCBHC provides services at locations that ensure accessibility and meet the needs of the consumer population to be served.

To the extent possible within the state Medicaid program or other funding or programs, the CCBHC provides transportation or transportation vouchers for consumers.

All new consumers requesting or being referred for behavioral health services will, at the time of first contact, receive a preliminary screening and risk assessment to determine acuity of needs. That screening may occur telephonically. The preliminary screening will be followed by: (1) an initial evaluation, and (2) a comprehensive person-centered and family-centered diagnostic and treatment planning evaluation, with the components of each specified in program requirement 4. Each evaluation builds upon what came before it. Subject to more stringent state, federal, or applicable accreditation standards:

• If the screening identifies an emergency/crisis need, appropriate action is taken immediately, including any necessary subsequent outpatient follow-up.

• If the screening identifies an urgent need, clinical services are provided and the initial evaluation completed within one business day of the time the request is made.

• If the screening identifies routine needs, services will be provided and the initial evaluation completed within 10 business days.

• For those presenting with emergency or urgent needs, the initial evaluation may be conducted telephonically or by telehealth/telemedicine but an in-person evaluation is preferred. If the initial evaluation is conducted telephonically, once the emergency is resolved’ the consumer must be seen in person at the next subsequent encounter and the initial evaluation reviewed.

In accordance with the requirements of program requirement 4, the CCBHC provides crisis management services that are available and-accessible 24-hours a day and delivered within three hours.