Bill Seeks to Expand Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Nationwide

On April 23, 2026, a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced legislation aimed at expanding access to behavioral healthcare nationwide. The bill, the Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act (H.R. 8487), would permanently authorize the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model and give states the option to implement the model within their behavioral healthcare systems, building on prior federal efforts to expand community-based mental health services.
CCBHCs deliver a comprehensive range of services, including 24/7 crisis response, outpatient mental health and substance use disorder treatment, screening and diagnosis, and care coordination, positioning them as a key component of the behavioral health safety net. The bill would establish a Medicare payment structure for CCBHCs, codify Medicaid reimbursement methodologies, and provide for accreditation standards, grant funding, and enhanced data infrastructure. If enacted, the bill could strengthen reimbursement stability, expand service capacity, and further integrate behavioral health care across community-based providers.

For more information, contact:
Lani M. Dornfeld, CHPC | 973.403.3136 | ldornfeld@bracheichler.com
Jonathan J. Walzman | 973.403.3120 | jwalzman@bracheichler.com
Paul J. DeMartino, Jr. | 973.364.5228 | pdemartino@bracheichler.com