Variation in Services Offered by Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics and Community Mental Health Centers

Community mental health centers (CMHCs) across the country can vary in the scope of services they provide. This variation is, in part, because of differences across states and communities in the availability of funding and staff to provide services. Further, some evidence suggests that payment rates for CMHCs historically have not covered the full cost of the services they currently provide, making it challenging to expand or offer a more comprehensive array of services.

The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model aims to ensure that all consumers who seek care have access to a common set of services. CMHCs or other behavioral health organizations must provide the following nine types of services to qualify as a CCBHC: crisis mental health services; screening, assessment, and diagnosis; outpatient mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment; person-centered treatment planning; primary care screening and monitoring of key health indicators; targeted case management; psychiatric rehabilitation; peer support; and intensive services for members of the armed forces and veterans.