[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 246 (Friday, December 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 78988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-28028]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration


Request for comments on the initial revised draft of the Update 
to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics certification 
criteria

AGENCY: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

ACTION: Request for Comments on the Initial Revised Draft of the Update 
to the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Certification 
Criteria.

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    SAMHSA is seeking public comment on the initial revised draft of 
the update to the Certification Criteria for Certified Community 
Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). CCBHCs were established under the 
Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA, 
Pub. L. 113-93). Section 223 of PAMA requires the establishment of 
Medicaid demonstration programs to improve community behavioral health 
services through the development of CCBHCs. CCBHCs are required to 
provide a comprehensive array of coordinated services to anyone who 
requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of ability 
to pay, place of residence, or age--including developmentally 
appropriate care for children. PAMA required the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS) to develop criteria for states to use when 
certifying clinics to participate in their demonstration programs. 
These criteria include six areas: (1) staffing, (2) availability and 
accessibility of services, (3) care coordination, (4) scope of 
services, (5) quality and other reporting, and (6) organizational 
authority. The current Certification Criteria can be found at: https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/ccbhc-criteria.pdf.
    There have been significant developments in the CCBHC program and 
in the broader mental health and substance use disorder field since the 
development of the existing Certification Criteria. States and 
providers now have six years of experience with the CCBHC model and 
lessons learned related to the implementation of the Certification 
Criteria. SAMHSA is seeking to make minor revisions to the Criteria to 
respond to these developments and lessons learned, while still 
maintaining the overarching requirements for program areas and scope of 
services outlined in PAMA.
    To develop the initial draft of the updated CCBHC Criteria, SAMHSA 
gathered input in several ways. Public opportunities for input were 
posted on https://www.samhsa.gov/certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics/ccbhc-criteria-update-announcements. Public meeting dates and 
virtual locations were disseminated through SAMHSA listservs. On 
November 17, 2022, SAMHSA held a virtual public listening session open 
to the public to provide input on the existing CCBHC Criteria. SAMHSA 
also accepted written input from the public and stakeholders sent to 
[email protected] by November 21, 2022. In addition to 
public outreach, SAMHSA also received feedback on potential revisions 
to the existing CCBHC Criteria from key stakeholders and federal 
partners.
    The initial draft of the updated CCBHC Criteria will be available 
for public comment before the end of December 2022 and will be open to 
mid-January 2023. Information on CCBHC Criteria updates and the process 
to support them is available at: https://www.samhsa.gov/certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics/ccbhc-criteria-update-announcements. The posting of the initial draft of the updated CCBHC 
Criteria will also be announced through SAMHSA's listserv, CCBHC 
Training and Technical Assistance grant program, and CCBHC State 
Technical Assistance contract. SAMHSA requests all comments to the 
initial draft of the updated CCBHC Criteria be sent to 
[email protected].
    Authority: Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act 
(2014), as amended.
    Contact: Mary Blake, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, telephone (240) 
276-1747; email: [email protected].

Alicia Broadus,
Public Health Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2022-28028 Filed 12-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4162-20-P