(Washington, D.C., March 16, 2023) – At this time, U.S. Senator Marshall, M.D. (KS) introduced the U.S. Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the state of Kansas a $1 million, one-year planning grant to increase licensed neighborhood behavioral well being clinics (CCBHCs) throughout the state. CCBHCs have proven to scale back hospital emergency companies by offering well timed entry to coordinated complete behavioral care, they usually have additionally supplied support to native legislation enforcement companies by offering 24-hour psychological well being disaster response. Senator Marshall led the Kansas delegation in sending a letter to SAMHSA in assist of the state’s software.

“CCBHCs will help remodel communities throughout Kansas by offering well timed entry to complete behavioral and psychological care,” mentioned Senator Marshall. “I worth how CCBHCs work collaboratively with hospitals to step in and scale back emergency division visits and support legislation enforcement officers in responding to people affected by a behavioral well being disaster. I applaud the state legislature for laying the groundwork and passing complete laws to extend the variety of CCBHCs within the state and congratulate KDADS and KDHE for being one among 15 states chosen to take part on this pilot program. This has been a collaborative effort since we prolonged the federal pilot program in December 2020. I’ll proceed to help the state companies and CCBHCs in order that they efficiently serve Kansans in want.”

“We’re honored to be one of many 15 states receiving this planning grant, step one on the trail towards Kansas finally being chosen as one among 10 to SAMHSA’s CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration undertaking,” mentioned KDADS Secretary Laura Howard. “Participation in that undertaking would spotlight the numerous work Kansas has put into strengthening and remodeling the state’s behavioral well being system one neighborhood at a time and maintain us up for example for the remainder of the nation.”

“Kansas has been a frontrunner within the CCBHC enviornment, launching its first CCBHCs virtually a 12 months in the past,” mentioned KDHE State Medicaid Director Sarah Fertig. “This planning grant will permit the Kansas Division for Growing older and Incapacity Companies to construct on its success and assist drive higher integration of main care and behavioral well being. This award wouldn’t be doable with out shut partnerships with suppliers and the assist of our Congressional delegation.”

It’s possible you’ll click on HERE or scroll all the way down to the learn the complete textual content of the letter.

January 25, 2022

The Honorable Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D.

Assistant Secretary

U.S. Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration

5600 Fishers Lane

Rockville, M.D. 20857

Expensive Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon:

We write in robust assist of the Kansas Licensed Group Behavioral Well being Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grant proposal submitted to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA).[1]  Since Congress supplied an growth of this grant program, we now have been in communication with the state companies – the Kansas Division of Growing older and Incapacity Companies and the Kansas Division of Well being and Setting – in addition to the 26 neighborhood psychological well being facilities. We commend the work of the state legislature that made this doable and the proposal submitted by the state companies. If awarded, our communities will likely be empowered to rework psychological well being companies to supply well timed entry to care and strengthen the psychological well being workforce.

The state of psychological well being in Kansas is among the many worst within the nation. In response to a report from Psychological Well being America, a community-based analysis and advocacy group, Kansas is ranked the general worst throughout 15 measures.[2] In reality, the most important results on the general rating had been youths with substance use dysfunction, adults with psychological sickness, and adults with suicidal ideation. Observing information from the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, Kansas had traditionally poor outcomes for its sufferers. In suicide, Kansas had amongst thehighest fee for folks age 15-24 and 10-14 from 2016 to 2020.[3] Younger Kansans reporting emotions of disappointment and hopelessness elevated from 25 p.c to just about 38 p.c between 2016 to final 12 months.[4] A number of obstacles have exacerbated the state of psychological well being care in our state together with well timed entry to care in applicable settings. As a rule, legislation enforcement and hospital emergency departments have been the primary contact level for sufferers experiencing a psychological well being disaster. Whereas important, they aren’t applicable professionals skilled to look after folks experiencing a psychological well being disaster or points associated to substance use dysfunction.

Based mostly on findings from states which have applied a CCBHC demonstration, we’re assured that Kansas will see optimistic well being outcomes for sufferers.[5] CCBHCs present life-saving companies corresponding to disaster care, residential remedy, drugs for critical psychological sickness, outpatient psychological well being and first care companies, and neighborhood re-entry assist. CCBHCs have additionally confirmed to scale back hospital emergency companies by offering well timed entry to coordinated care, they usually have additionally supplied support to native legislation enforcement companies by offering 24-hour psychological well being disaster response.

This grant would permit the joint candidates to put crucial groundwork to make sure that the CCBHC system is established successfully. Amongst different priorities, the candidates will use this planning grant to supply coaching and technical help to the CMHCs, MCOs, and key companions. As well as, the grant may also assist in informing current state rules, finalize the potential cost system choice in keeping with new federal steering, and submit a proposal to take part in an illustration managed by the U.S. Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies.[6]