Bill > HB1496

This bill aims to improve mental health and substance use services in Mississippi by establishing Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). The legislation requires the State Department of Mental Health and the Division of Medicaid to apply to the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to join the Medicaid CCBHC Demonstration Program, which was originally established by the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014. The bill mandates that these agencies submit a State Plan Amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to implement the CCBHC model statewide, with a goal of allowing each community mental health center the opportunity to apply for CCBHC certification by July 1, 2026. CCBHCs are designed to provide comprehensive, holistic mental health services that incorporate evidence-based practices, establish care coordination, and create effective community partnerships with organizations like law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and veterans' groups. The State Department of Mental Health will be responsible for certifying and monitoring these clinics, while the Division of Medicaid will develop a prospective payment system (PPS) to fund the program, with the ultimate aim of improving service quality, access, and innovation in mental health care.

Health and Social Services

https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2025/pdf/history/HB/HB1496.xml