(Dixon, IL)
On July 7, 2021, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation to pilot an innovative and comprehensive model for behavioral health care providers. The legislation lays the groundwork to craft a new model for behavioral healthcare services in Illinois in the future.
While Illinois is in the beginning stages of this effort, the Excellence in Mental Health Act passed by Congress in 2014 improved access to mental health services and among other provisions, provides funding through federal grants to behavioral health providers.
Sinnissippi Centers recently was awarded funds under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s FY 2021 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Expansion Grant program.
“For people with serious mental illness, the CCBHC model more closely integrates primary care with behavioral health,” says Patrick Phelan, Sinnissippi Centers’ President/CEO. “By addressing primary care needs, we are able to identify physical issues sooner and help them link to our medical providers and get treatment,” adds Phelan. Under the CCBHC model providers are allowed to use funding to provide care to individuals who do not have any health care coverage.
