Jun 17, 2024

Kansas added to Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics demonstration program

Posted Jun 17, 2024 4:02 PM
Cynthia Panuco, left and Paulette Collier, right, chat at the Central Kansas Mental Health Center booth during the Greater Salina Community Foundation Match Madness on Thursday, March 21, at the Salina Field House. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier
Cynthia Panuco, left and Paulette Collier, right, chat at the Central Kansas Mental Health Center booth during the Greater Salina Community Foundation Match Madness on Thursday, March 21, at the Salina Field House. Photo by Olivia Bergmeier

By SALINA POST

On June 4 Gov. Laura Kelly announced that Kansas has been added to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) Medicaid Demonstration Program.

The CCBHC model, first implemented in eight demonstration states in 2017, enhances access to crisis, behavioral health, and substance use services in communities. In 2021, Kansas became the first state to pass legislation (Senate Substitute for House Bill 2208) recognizing the CCBHC model as a solution to the mental health and substance use crisis. Following a SAMHSA CCBHC planning grant last year, Kansas joins nine other new states in the CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Program, which provides sustainable funding to expand access to these vital services.

Central Kansas Mental Health Center (CKMHC) began transitioning to the CCBHC model in 2021 as one of the first six Community Mental Health Centers in Kansas to receive a SAMHSA CCBHC Expansion grant. CKMHC received full CCBHC certification from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services earlier this year.

“The establishment of the CCBHC model of care and service delivery in Kansas is the biggest change to mental health care systems in over 30 years,” said Jennifer Kaufman, CCBHC Project Director at CKMHC. “CKMHC is proud of the hard work put forth by all of our staff and community partners to fully support the comprehensive health needs of our communities.”

As a CCBHC, CKMHC has implemented required services to increase access and provide whole-person care, including comprehensive care coordination and expanded crisis services. Since the transition, CKMHC has added over 50 new staff members and expanded access and capacity to provide needed care, with the number of patients served increasing by 7% year over year.

One successful CCBHC initiative is the expansion of CKMHC’s Same Day Access clinic, which allows for individuals to walk in for an intake and initial assessment.

In 2024, an average of 200 individuals per month initiated their care through Same Day Access. Additionally, CKMHC has expanded crisis services and formed more meaningful community partnerships to provide holistic care and no-wrong-door access. Partnerships include collaborations with Salina Family Healthcare Center, CKF Addiction Treatment, OCCK Inc., homeless support services, and local law enforcement.

Nationally, the original eight CCBHC demonstration states successfully increased access to mental health and substance use care through same-day appointments, extended hours of operation, increased staffing, and targeted outreach to underserved groups. CKMHC anticipates similar benefits as Kansas joins this program, further enhancing our ability to serve the community.

The mission of CKMHC is to make life better in our communities by providing excellent mental health services, education, and integrated care, that exceeds patients’ expectations. 

CKMHC is a nonprofit provider and delivers services based on medical necessity, regardless of age, race, color, national origin, disability or ability to pay. In addition to the main campus in Salina, satellite offices are located in Abilene, Ellsworth, Lincoln, and Minneapolis.