The Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model was established through the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) care in community-based settings. The original demonstration project, administered through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in 2016, provided 1-year planning grants awarded to 24 states followed by 2-year demonstration grants awarded to 8 states. Funding was set to expire in June 2019, but a recent bill passed by Congress provides short-term extension funding. In late 2018, SAMHSA announced funding for CCBHC expansion projects that organizations from the original 24 states were permitted to apply.

To better understand behavioral health workforce factors and service delivery within CCBHCs, this mixed methods study helps inform policy makers and discusses future practice recommendations.