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Senator Stabenow, CMHA-CEI CEO, and HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Highlight Success of Transformational Behavioral Health Initiative in Lansing

For Immediate Release

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Senator Stabenow, CMHA-CEI CEO, and HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Highlight Success of Transformational Behavioral Health Initiative in Lansing

LANSING – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow joined Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties CEO Sara Lurie and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon to highlight the transformational behavioral health services provided by the clinic. Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties is one of 34 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in Michigan, a highly successful initiative created by Senator Stabenow.

“Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties is transforming the way that we deliver behavioral health services in our community,” said Senator Stabenow. “My mental health care and substance use disorder initiative is a proven success story and is transforming care in Michigan and across our country. Now, every state will be able to join and make sure health care above the neck is funded the same way as health care below the neck. Because of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, help through our highly successful clinics will begin to reach people in every corner of our country.”

“The CCBHC model championed by our own US Senator Debbie Stabenow is truly transformative and is helping us to improve quality of care and more fully serve our community. The need is for timely behavioral health services is great and it is vitally important and exciting that this model can now be further expanded here in Michigan and throughout the United States,” said Sara Lurie, CEO of Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, Ingham Counties.

“Today, I was pleased to visit two Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in the state of Michigan with Senator Stabenow,” said Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, Ph.D., HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA.“CCBHCs are transforming behavioral health systems in this country, and we know that the model of care works. They decrease homelessness, incarcerations, emergency room and hospital stays, and the use of illegal substances with 24/7 access to crisis stabilization.”

Last year, Senator Stabenow led the passage of the transformational initiative to fully fund high-quality mental health and substance use disorder services through Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, a program implemented and supported by SAMHSA. Due to the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, every state and the District of Columbia can expand transformational behavioral health support to their residents. Michigan began participating in Stabenow’s behavioral health initiative in 2021.

These Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics are transforming community care by setting high-quality standards of care and then funding mental health and addiction services as health care through Medicaid. This is the same successful structure used for federally qualified health centers.

In order to receive enhanced Medicaid funding, the clinics are required to provide crisis services that are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use disorder, regardless of their ability to pay. Other high-quality services are required as well, including outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment services; immediate screenings, risk assessments, and diagnoses; and care coordination including partnerships with emergency rooms, law enforcement, and veterans’ groups.

The Department of Health and Human Services found that people who receive care at these clinics had:

* 74% reduction in hospitalization
* 68% reduction in visits to the emergency room
* 33% decrease in homelessness

Also, 84% of these clinics either already provide direct services on site at elementary, middle, and high schools or plan to in the future.

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About Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties (CMHA-CEI):
The Community Mental Health Authority of Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties (CMHA-CEI) provides, directly and through partnerships, a comprehensive set of person-centered, high quality, and effective behavioral health, substance abuse, and developmental disability services to the residents of this community.