Nebraska lawmakers approve mental, behavioral health bill to improve state services

KEARNEY, Neb. — Nebraska is now working on a mental and behavioral care model that Sen. Anna Wishart said has been proven to save money and lives. She said the model has reduced emergency room visits and incarceration for patients in states that have already implemented it.

LB 276 passed on a 46-0 vote Friday. It will allow agencies in the state to follow the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Model (CCBHC).

MENTAL HEALTH TAKES CENTER STAGE AS FILIBUSTER RESUMES IN NEB. LEGISLATURE

Gov. Jim Pillen described the bill vote as a "no-brainer”, in a statement he said:

We must come together to solve tough problems and mental health and substance abuse are tough problems. This piece of legislation will help transform mental health and substance abuse services in Nebraska.

NTV News spoke with CEO and President of Community Alliance Carole Boye. She explained to us what the passage of LB 276 means for the state.

“I think what really thrills us is that, all of state government, local government, private sector, have prioritized mental health,” Boye said. “Post-pandemic the needs are tremendous, and the passage of this bill, especially unanimously just tell us that we are collectively prioritizing mental health.”

She explained that the new certified community behavioral health clinic model will be a new framework to better organize mental health and behavioral services in the state.

“Right now, we have a fairly complicated system of care for people,” Boye said.

She added that currently patients can get different mental health services that are not well integrated together, and in order to receive those services people move from one agency to the next.

“What this framework allows us to do is to integrate them better based upon their individual needs and where they are in their recovery journey,” Boye added.

Now several mental and behavioral health agencies in the state will provide "care coordination."

“We are going to take responsibility to make sure there is a smooth transition from one level of service to the next, and then to the next,” Boye said.

Boye explained that prior to the pandemic one in five Nebraskans faced a mental health challenge. Post-pandemic it is one in every three.

“Also, there is a tremendous correlation between mental health issues and physical health issues,” she added.

The model would also integrate primary healthcare with the mental health system.

“It is really tremendously important, because we have a lot of Nebraskans that are struggling, they don’t know where to go, and when they get there, we might not have the services there, or we might slice them/dice them so much,” Boye said. “This new model really offers so much promise, and across the country, it really has shown to make a difference.”

According to the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, 500 CCBHCs are operating in 46 states, plus Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and Guam.

The program would be started using some cash funding with a match in federal dollars. Boye said it could take a year or two for the model to be included within the Medicaid plans. The bill calls for the state to seek federal Medicaid approval before Jan. 1, 2026, to use the payment method.

The state has been already testing out the model at five pilot sites, including Community Alliance and Heartland Family Services in Omaha, South Central Behavioral Services in Hastings and Lutheran Family Services in Lincoln.

“All of us are working together with the state to pilot and to learn it,” Boye said.

To be certified, clinics must provide nine types of services, and the services must be available at all hours. The services include outpatient mental health and substance abuse services, outpatient clinic primary care screenings, crisis mental health, psychiatric rehabilitation services, peer support and counseling as well as family support.

The clinics will provide care even if a person is unable to pay. They will get paid a fixed daily or monthly amount to cover the anticipated costs of services. That method will allow the clinics to have more flexibility in meeting a person's needs and covering some types of services that are not usually reimbursed.

Boye explained that like many other industries, mental and behavioral health agencies also have issues with staffing. She said that the new model would help retain and attract more mental health professionals.