Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, is offering a cooperative agreement opportunity for the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model. This eight-year, voluntary service delivery and payment model aims to promote integrated care in behavioral health settings for adult Medicaid, Medicare, and dual-eligible beneficiaries with moderate to severe mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders. CMS will select up to eight state Medicaid agencies to participate in the model, which includes a three-year pre-implementation period and a five-year implementation period. Key requirements include recruiting eligible behavioral health practice participants, implementing a Medicaid payment approach with performance-based payments, providing infrastructure funding, and reporting on quality, utilization, and evaluation measures.

CMS will award up to $7.5 million in cooperative agreement funding to each selected recipient over the eight-year period of the IBH Model. The model is authorized under Section 1115A of the Social Security Act and has a Federal Assistance Listings Number of 93.610. The application deadline is September 23, 2024, and awards are anticipated to be issued on December 17, 2024.