Background
The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) model, established under Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) and expanded through subsequent federal legislation, is designed to ensure access to coordinated comprehensive behavioral health care. CCBHCs are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence, or age. The CCBHC model is supported by a cost-based Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Medicaid participants. The CCBHC PPS is designed to finance the full scope of CCBHC core services, including care coordination, 24/7 access to care, and multidisciplinary team-based care, which can be difficult to support under fee-for-service payment models.
In 2023, Senate Bill (SB) 362 mandated the Department to apply for the CCBHC Planning Grant for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) and for inclusion in the state CCBHC four-year Demonstration program for FY26. Maryland was awarded a one-year CCBHC Planning Grant on December 31, 2024, and subsequently received a no-cost extension through December 30, 2026.
CCBHC 9 Essential Services:
To achieve official status and receive enhanced, cost-based Medicaid reimbursement, CCBHCs must provide or actively contract for the following 9 Essential Services: [1, 2, 3] - Crisis Mental Health Services: 24/7 access to emergency crisis intervention, mobile crisis teams, and crisis stabilization.
- Screening, Assessment, and Diagnosis: Rapid risk assessment and diagnosis, including addressing physical and behavioral health needs.
- Patient-Centered Treatment Planning: Collaborative, individualized treatment and crisis planning involving the patient and their family.
- Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Use Services: Comprehensive, evidence-based outpatient care for both mental health issues and substance use disorders (SUD).
- Primary Care Screening and Monitoring: Routine monitoring of key physical health indicators and coordination with primary care providers.
- Targeted Case Management: Assistance to individuals in navigating medical, social, educational, and other necessary support systems.
- Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services: Skills training and support to help individuals with serious mental illnesses (SMI) succeed in their communities.
- Peer Support and Family Support Services: Support from individuals with lived experience, counseling, and peer-led support initiatives.
- Services for Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans: Tailored, intensive community-based mental health care designed specifically for veteran populations.
Key Highlights
- Focus on equity, access, and crisis services
- Crisis services to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Comprehensive behavioral health services to be available so people who need care don't have to piece together the behavioral health support they need across multiple providers.
- Care coordination to be provided to help people navigate behavioral health care, physical health care, social services, and the other systems they are involved in. (SAMHSA 1, 2, 3)
Updates and Announcements
- October 30, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
- September 25, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
- August 28, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
- August 26, 2026 - CCBHC Certification Applications DUE
- July 31, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting - CANCELLED
- June 26, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
- June 2026 - MHAMD begins scheduling readiness assessments
- May 28, 2026 - SAMHSA notified Maryland of the approval of the demonstration application on May 28, 2026. Maryland's tentative date for program commencement is July 1, 2027.
- May 22, 2026 - Cost Reports due to Myers and Stauffer for evaluation and rate setting.
- May 4, 2026 - CCBHC Certification Application released
- April 24, 2026 - Stakeholder Engagement Meeting
- April 1, 2026 - Maryland CCBHC Demonstration Application submitted to SAMHSA.
Demonstration Application to SAMHSA
States participating in the CCBHC Demonstration commit to paying for the delivery of services for Medicaid participants. While sites must serve all individuals who request care, states are not obligated to reimburse sites for services delivered to individuals not enrolled in Medicaid. The CCBHC Demonstration requires sites to provide an expansive array of behavioral health services, including some that may not be covered by non-Medicaid payers.
Maryland’s submission of the Demonstration Application:
Certification Application Materials and Timeline
| PHASE | TIMEFRAME | DATES |
| Application Open | 90 days | May 4 – August 26, 2026 |
| Application Deadline |
| August 26, 2026 |
| CCBHC Review Period | 34 business days | August 26 – October 12, 2026 |
| Final Review Complete |
| Applicants will be notified of approval/denial by late October/early November
|
Resources and FAQs
