Senate committee advances pilot to certify community behavioral health clinics, aims to draw federal Medicaid funds

A Senate committee voted to report out legislation that would let the Department of Mental Health and Medicaid seek federal designation for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and launch a small state pilot to draw federal Medicaid dollars.

Senator Hickman, presenting the bill to the committee, said the measure "would allow for the Department of Mental Health to be able to certify, certified community behavioral health clinics. And then that would enable them to start a pilot program to draw down federal funds, that would then allow us to use, federal mass dollars for a lot of things that we pay for now." The committee voted that the motion title was sufficient and the bill was reported out.

The bill instructs the Department of Mental Health and Medicaid to apply for federal CCBHC designation and to begin a pilot expected to include "maybe, 2 or, 3, CCBHCs," chosen from the state's regions and ranked by readiness, committee members said. Senator Hickman and other presenters said about 20 states already participate in CCBHC programs and that states typically see a return on investment within three years.

Dr. Bailey, who described recent readiness work, said the region in question "would be 1 of the top community mental health centers that would be ready because we've already done some initial readiness review. Also, they, Region 9 High Behavioral Health currently has a CCBHC grant." She told the committee the state has operational standards in place (effective Nov. 1) and has received a federal planning grant used to prepare regions for certification.

Senator Horn and other members asked how pilot sites would be selected and how many people would be served. Senator Hickman and Dr. Bailey said regions would apply and be ranked by readiness; the number of people served would depend on the regions selected. Dr. Bailey said community mental health centers served "probably about 80,000" individuals last year, but that the exact number served under the Medicaid pilot would depend on which regions were chosen. She reiterated that a national CCBHC requirement is to "serve regardless of the ability to pay."

Supporters said the model resembles federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in its enhanced reimbursement and emphasis on integrated care and care coordination. Senator Boyd described the CCBHC model as a "game changer" for rural states and noted it includes integrated primary care and same-day access components.

Votes at a glance - Senate Bill 2392 (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics): Motion that title was sufficient passed; bill reported out of committee. - Senate Bill 2386 (Medicaid reimbursement services beneficiaries; hospital assessment related provisions): Motion that title was sufficient passed; bill reported out (placeholder language; committee described it as a placeholder while federal developments proceed). - Senate Bill 2388 (Committee Substitute; allows Department of Medicaid to utilize non-opioid medication): Motion that title was sufficient passed; bill reported out. - Senate Bill 2397 (Mental health facilities; adds adult services to Medicaid listing): Motion that title was sufficient passed; bill reported out. - Senate Bill 2748 (Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act): Motion that title was sufficient passed; bill reported out.

The committee repeatedly described this CCBHC measure as a pilot that would expand access through Medicaid and provide funding and operational support to community mental health centers determined ready to implement the program. The bill will go to appropriations and, if advanced, officials said the departments will coordinate federal application requirements and rank regional applicants by readiness.

Several presenters offered handouts and said more detailed operational and financial information would be provided to committee members if the bill reaches the floor. The committee scheduled a follow-up meeting before the legislative deadline to consider remaining bills.