CMS released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for state planning grants for qualifying Medicaid Community-Based Mobile Crisis Intervention Services in accordance with the American Rescue Plan. This $15million funding opportunity provides financial resources for state Medicaid agencies. It will help to assess community needs and develop programs to bring crisis intervention services directly to individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis outside a hospital.
- Availability: The $15 million funding opportunity is available to state Medicaid agencies for planning grants to support developing these programs. These services may include screening and assessment, stabilization and de-escalation, and coordination of referrals after the initial treatment.
- Investments: “Investing in crisis intervention services ensure Americans experiencing mental health or substance use disorder crisis get the care and treatment they need,” said Secretary Becerra. “These grants will help states build these critical services to help communities send a responder who is trained and ready to assist people in crisis.”
- Utilization: The planning grants provide funding to develop, prepare for, and implement qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention services under the Medicaid program. Grant funds can be used to support states’ assessments of their current services, strengthen capacity and information systems, and ensure that services can be accessed 24 hours a day/365 days a year.
- Funds for health: The amount of the grant will also provide behavioral health care training for multi-disciplinary teams, or to seek technical assistance to develop State Plan Amendment (SPAs), demonstration applications, and waiver program requests under the Medicaid program.
- Provisions for better outcomes: “It is vital that we can meet people where they are, especially when those individuals are in crisis,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure.”This funding will help state Medicaid agencies plan innovative ways to provide and better mobilize these essential intervention services to their communities.”