(Washington, DC, March 16, 2023) Immediately, US Senator Marshall, MD (KS) introduced that the US Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA) awarded the state of Kansas a one-year, $1 million planning grant. USD to develop licensed neighborhood behavioral well being clinics (CCBHCs) all through the state . CCBHCs have been proven to cut back hospital emergency companies by offering well timed entry to coordinated complete behavioral care, and so they have additionally assisted native legislation enforcement by offering 24-hour psychological well being disaster response. Senator Marshall led the Kansas delegation in sending a letter to SAMHSA in help of the state’s software.
CCBHCs may also help rework communities throughout Kansas by offering well timed entry to complete behavioral and psychological well being care, Senator Marshall mentioned. I admire how CCBHCs accomplice with hospitals to step in and cut back emergency room visits and assist legislation enforcement reply 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 considered one of 15 states chosen to take part on this pilot program. This has been a collaborative effort since we expanded the federal pilot program in December 2020. I’ll proceed to assist state businesses and CCBHCs efficiently serve Kansans in want.
We’re honored to be considered one of 15 states to obtain this planning grant, step one on the trail towards Kansas in the end being chosen as considered one of 10 for SAMHSA’s CCBHC Medicaid Demonstration Undertaking, mentioned KDADS Secretary Laura Howard. Participation on this venture will 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 to the remainder of the nation.
Kansas has been a pacesetter within the CCBHC enviornment, launching its first CCBHCs practically a 12 months in the past, mentioned KDHE State Medicaid Director Sarah Fertig. This planning grant will permit the Kansas Division for Ageing and Incapacity Companies to construct on its success and assist promote higher integration of major care and behavioral well being. This award wouldn’t be attainable with out shut partnerships with suppliers and the help of our congressional delegation.
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25 January 2022
The Honorable Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D.
Assistant Secretary
US Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
Pricey Assistant Secretary Delphin-Rittmon:
We’re writing in robust help of the Kansas Licensed Group Behavioral Well being Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grant proposal submitted to the US Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being Companies Administration (SAMHSA).[1] Since Congress prolonged this grant program, now we have been in communication with the state businesses, the Kansas Division of Ageing and Incapacity Companies and the Kansas Division of Well being and Setting, in addition to the 26 native psychological well being facilities. We commend the work of the state legislature that made this attainable and the proposal introduced by the state authorities. If awarded, our communities might 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 keeping with a report by Psychological Well being America, a community-based analysis and advocacy group, Kansas ranked worst general throughout 15 measures.[2] In truth, the largest results on the general rating have been youth with substance abuse, adults with psychological sickness, and adults with suicidal ideation. Observing information from the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, Kansas traditionally had poor outcomes for its sufferers. In suicide, Kansas had among the many highest charges for folks ages 15-24 and 10-14 from 2016 to 2020.[3] Younger Kansans reporting emotions of disappointment and hopelessness rose from 25 p.c to just about 38 p.c between 2016 and final 12 months.[4] A number of obstacles have worsened the state of psychological well being care in our state, together with well timed entry to care in acceptable settings. As a rule, legislation enforcement and hospital emergency rooms have been the primary level of contact for sufferers experiencing a psychological well being disaster. Though necessary, they aren’t acceptable professionals educated to take care of folks experiencing a psychological well being disaster or issues associated to substance abuse.
Based mostly on outcomes from states which have applied a CCBHC demonstration, we’re assured that Kansas will see constructive well being outcomes for sufferers.[5] CCBHCs present life-saving companies comparable to disaster remedy, residential remedy, medicine for critical psychological sickness, outpatient psychological well being and first care companies, and neighborhood re-entry help. CCBHCs have additionally been proven to cut back hospital emergency companies by offering well timed entry to coordinated care, and so they have additionally supplied help to native legislation enforcement businesses by offering 24-hour psychological well being disaster response.
All ranges of presidency in and representing Kansas have labored diligently to make the CCBHC mannequin a possible resolution. In 2021, Kansas handed complete laws to ascertain a course of for certifying CMHCs as CCBHCs. Since then, 9 CMHCs have been licensed, and the remaining 17 CMHCs are on observe to be licensed as a CCBHC in 2024. Already, the primary 9 are exhibiting progress in rising entry to psychological well being and substance abuse companies that integrates behavioral well being with bodily well being care and utilization of evidence-based apply. Though nonetheless early in use, the growth of CCBHCs onto the primary 9 CMHCs is proving to extend the responsiveness and availability of psychological well being companies to the Kansas communities they serve. We’re assured that Kansas presents each the necessity and the flexibility to reap the benefits of the alternatives this grant supplies.
This grant would permit the joint candidates to put a essential basis to make sure that the CCBHC system is successfully established. Amongst different priorities, 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 inform current state rules, finalize potential cost system choice below new federal steerage, and submit a proposal to take part in an indication administered by the U.S. Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Companies.[6]
We admire your work in selling psychological well being initiatives that allow our communities to supply higher entry to psychological well being care. We imagine this growth grant is essential to offering higher entry to psychological well being care. Thanks for contemplating this software.
With finest regards
Roger Marshall, MD
US Senator
Jerry Moran
US Senator
Ron Estes
United States consultant
Sharice L. Davids
United States consultant
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