District of columbia CCBHC planning grant - the district of columbia (DC) department of behavioral health (DBH) and the DC department of health care finance (DHCF) intend to use the FY 2025…

District of columbia CCBHC planning grant - the district of columbia (DC) department of behavioral health (DBH) and the DC department of health care finance (DHCF) intend to use the FY 2025 cooperative agreements for certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC) planning grant (nofo no. SM-25-001) to expand access to comprehensive, low-barrier behavioral health services for all district residents through the adoption of ccbhcs. The subpopulations of focus for the planning grant and demonstration will be individuals adversely affected by poverty or inequality, those with serious mental illness (SMI), children with severe emotional disturbance (SED), individuals with substance use disorders (SUD), and older adults with significant medical CO-morbidities. DBH serves around 48,905 individuals, of these, 90% receive mental health treatment, 10% receive SUD treatment, and 6% receive both. In DC, 29% of adults have any mental illness, but 55% do not receive treatment. Among youth, 7% experience severe major depressive episodes, with 41% not receiving treatment. For those 12 and older, 23% have a SUD, yet 75% do not receive treatment. DC also has the second-highest overdose rate in the country. Black/african american residents make up 41% of the population but 67% of DBH service recipients. Among DBH clients, 12% are under 18, 9% are over 65, and 98% of SUD clients are adults. Among mental health clients, 48% are male; among SUD clients, 64% are male. Additionally, 39% of DBH mental health clients are unemployed, with 17% experiencing homelessness. For those in SUD treatment, 58% are unemployed, and 50% are homeless. The district offers a wide range of behavioral health services but recognizes the need to expand access to comprehensive, person-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based care. If awarded the planning grant, DC will enhance its behavioral health infrastructure by preparing clinics to become ccbhcs, which will provide a single access point for services across all age groups, improve integration with primary care, and standardize evidence-based practices. During the planning grant period, DBH will prepare 4 prospective ccbhcs for the 2026 demonstration, ensuring they are certified and ready to meet the CCBHC criteria and receive reimbursement before the demonstration begins. The planning grant will enable DBH and DHCF to hire project staff who will establish a steering committee consisting of care recipients, families, providers, and other key stakeholders to guide the planning and implementation of ccbhcs in DC, including developing certification criteria and establishing prospective payment system (PPS) rates. CCBHC project staff will provide training, technical assistance, and sub-grant funding to help selected providers meet CCBHC certification requirements, including staffing, ensuring access to all nine required services either directly or through dcos, care coordination and managing DCO partnerships, PPS cost reporting, data collection and quality reporting, and establishing board governance with participation from individuals with lived experience. The planning grant will also support providers in making cultural, procedural, and organizational changes, with an emphasis on improving workforce diversity and competence. Ccbhcs will build provider capacity to deliver expanded services and ensure high-quality care for individuals with SMI, SUD, youth with SED, older adults with significant medical CO-morbidities, and those affected by poverty or inequality. DBH and DHCF will work closely with selected ccbhcs to ensure accurate and timely performance measurement, utilizing the behavioral health supplemental data system (BHSD) for data management and reporting.