Governor Greg Gianforte announced that Montana has been selected by the Trump administration as one of ten states to receive federal funding to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Through the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program, Montana will participate in a four-year federal program to establish clinics that serve Montanans seeking care for mental health or substance use challenges, regardless of age, place of residence, or ability to pay.
Planning and Preparation
Prior to selection, the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) completed a comprehensive two-year planning phase to certify four local providers with approximately 20 sites across the state. The state established a Medicaid prospective payment system designed to cover the actual costs of providing expanded, integrated behavioral health services.
National Standards and Services
All participating CCBHCs are required to meet high national standards, including providing 24/7 crisis response and care services, timely access to outpatient services to reduce long wait times, a comprehensive scope of service, and evidence-based practices tailored to local community needs including services for children and youth. The state established the Behavioral Health System for Future Generations (BHSFG) Commission through House Bill 872, which included a $300 million generational investment to reform and improve Montana’s behavioral health services systems.
Monitoring and Implementation
As part of the four-year demonstration, DPHHS will continuously monitor clinics to ensure substantive compliance, compile annual cost and quality reports, and collaborate with national evaluation teams from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to track program impact. The transition to a cost-based reimbursement funding model provides sustainable funding for quality services with measurable outcomes.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news.mt.gov/Governors-Office/Governor-Gianforte-Announces-Montana-Secures-Federal-Funding-to-Establish-Behavioral-Health-Clinics