The Abbe Center for Community Mental Health in Cedar Rapids is one of four UnityPoint Health-affiliated centers recently deemed eligible to become state Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) as part of Iowa’s federal application to become a Medicaid demonstration program.
Federal approval of Iowa as a CCBHC demonstration state would increase Medicaid funding for providers of behavioral health services and would streamline the services available at CCBHCs across the state. CCBHCs who are state certified would be eligible for the new reimbursement model.
Along with the Abbe Center, the Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services in Des Moines, the Berryhill Center in Fort Dodge and the Robert Young Center in Moline, Ill. were also deemed eligible for CCBHC certification The Robert Young Center also was selected for a similar CCBHC demonstration program application process in the state of Illinois.
All four UnityPoint Health facilities selected to participate in Iowa’s CCBHC demonstration state process are currently self-certified as CCBHCs through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and all have received at least two federal grants in the last five years to support implementation and operation of the CCBHC model in their respective communities.
“UnityPoint Health continues to work proactively to improve the health of individuals suffering from complex physical and mental illnesses,” Aaron McHone, behavioral health service line operations director for UnityPoint Health, said in a news release. “We are thrilled to partner with the state of Iowa and Medicaid in creating a more sustainable behavioral healthcare system statewide.”
CCBHCs are designed to improve access to community-based behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment and support by focusing on providing comprehensive, integrated, coordinated, and person-centered behavioral health care. Each CCBHC has the flexibility to implement programming based on the needs of their community, while reporting on standardized quality outcome measures.
