CCBHC's Demonstrate Outcomes & Hope

Demand Decision Makers to Follow Through 

Opinion Editorial by Caitlyn Yerves, Advocacy Specialist

 

In July 2017, New Jersey was one of eight states selected to pilot a two-year federal demonstration project called the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) program. The term "federal demonstration project" implies a trial period; an opportunity to experiment, to prove or disprove a hypothesis. In the case of the CCBHC's, the educated guess is that comprehensive integrated healthcare will reduce costs and improve outcomes for individuals with behavioral health conditions. The hope is that, by demonstrating useful outcomes, the project can be extended and expanded to serve more individuals throughout the nation.

A variety of factors need to be addressed in order to effectively treat these conditions. The CCBHC model has responded by establishing a one-stop shop for necessary services. CCBHC's are funded through a prospective payment system, which allows for coverage of activities which historically have not been included for reimbursement, such as services provided outside of the organization, telehealth services, peer services, and other essential social supports.

As one of seven New Jersey agencies selected to pilot the program, and with the experience of having one foot in each world, CarePlus can assert the benefit of the CCBHC and the harm of fee-for-service (FFS). Having taken every measure to reduce the loss, the CarePlus outpatient department still has a projected annual deficit of $2.1M due to the FFS transition. While the CCBHC bulk funding helps to offset that loss, it is a critical problem for which most agencies do not have a solution. New Jersey providers have warned about the dangers of FFS, and perhaps that helped to inspire this federal demonstration project... which is proving an effective route around the systematic traffic jam caused by the FFS funding transition.

Strengths that have been demonstrated through the CCBHC model include the ability to measure and address population health; reduce wait times for services; increase access to specialized services and evidence-based therapies while monitoring transitions in care from hospitalization to outpatient services. Perhaps one of the most promising developments from the CCBHC project is the licensed ambulatory detox clinic, completing the continuum of care for addiction in a community-based setting. There has been a lot of talk of expanding and improving substance abuse treatment options under FFS, but it is critical to realize that this is being done at the cost of mental health services.

The CCBHC test drive is well underway, and the vehicle is delivering as promised. Not only that, but it's important to point out that the alternative, the FFS model, is stalling the system. Now it's a question of whether or not decision makers will invest wisely by extending and expanding this data-driven model. CCBHC's are providing hope for the future of integrated behavioral healthcare, making tremendous efforts and producing promising outcomes ( see the report provided by the National Council).

It is time for decision makers to follow suite and overcome the seeming hopelessness for our national healthcare system by working with the facts clearly demonstrated by this federal project. In solidarity with the National Council for Behavioral Health, the New Jersey CCBHC's are uniting in their efforts to advocate for a one-year extension and 11-state expansion, as delineated in the Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act (S. 1905/ H.R. 3931).

Please note the New Jersey Representatives that have supported this important bill: sponsored by Representative Leonard Lance, cosponsored by Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen and Representative Bill Pascrell.

Community Call to Action