Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants

The Cooperative Agreements for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Planning Grants are a federal funding opportunity offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This opportunity is designed specifically to support states that were not previously selected to participate in the CCBHC Demonstration Program. It aims to assist those states in preparing the essential infrastructure and applications necessary to enter the next phase of the CCBHC Demonstration under Section 223 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA). The CCBHC model is a comprehensive behavioral health approach that enables states to deliver high-quality, integrated care with sustainable funding through Medicaid. The primary objectives of the CCBHC State Planning Grant program are threefold. First, it will fund efforts to develop and implement robust state-level certification systems for CCBHCs, ensuring that clinics meet a defined set of quality standards. Second, it will support the establishment of Prospective Payment Systems (PPS), which are essential for securing Medicaid reimbursements for behavioral health services. Third, it provides resources for the preparation of a formal application to participate in a four-year CCBHC Demonstration program. Through this demonstration, selected states will have the opportunity to scale integrated mental health and substance use treatment services while tracking performance metrics and patient outcomes. The grant anticipates distributing an estimated total of $12 million across approximately 12 awards, though specific award ceilings and floors are not currently available. These cooperative agreements do not require a matching or cost-sharing contribution from recipients. Funding is provided under Assistance Listing Number 93.829, which aligns with Section 223 of the Public Health Service Act aimed at improving community mental health services through structured demonstrations. Eligibility for this funding is strictly limited to states and the District of Columbia that have not previously participated in the CCBHC Demonstration Program. The statutory eligibility restriction ensures that this opportunity is targeted at expanding the geographic reach of the demonstration and fostering more uniform access to certified community behavioral health care across the nation. There is no indication of additional eligibility restrictions at the county, municipal, or organizational level, making this a state-focused grant initiative. As of the current forecast, the estimated post date for this opportunity is June 15, 2026, although the exact application due date and award dates have not yet been specified. Applicants should monitor Grants.gov and the SAMHSA website for the final Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), which will include complete application instructions, deadlines, and required documentation. Contact for further inquiries is Kenny Fassel at 240-276-2134 or via email at [email protected]. Since this is a forecasted opportunity and part of an ongoing federal initiative, the CCBHC Planning Grants are likely to be issued on a recurring basis, particularly to coincide with the continuation and expansion of the Section 223 Demonstration Program. Stakeholders in eligible states are advised to prepare in advance by evaluating their certification systems, Medicaid reimbursement structures, and readiness to participate in a federal demonstration model.