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Today,
CMS is reminding states that April 1st is the first day that the
Medicaid state option for qualifying community-based mobile crisis
intervention services is in effect with the enhanced federal medical
assistance percentage (FMAP) provided by the American Rescue Plan
(ARP). The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes the importance of
providing access to qualified professionals who can respond in real-time to
mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) crises. Community-based
mobile crisis intervention services are a key element of an effective
behavioral health crisis continuum of care. The main objectives of
community-based mobile crisis intervention services are to provide rapid
response, individual assessment, and crisis resolution by trained mental
health and substance use treatment professionals and paraprofessionals in
situations where individuals are experiencing a mental health and/or SUD
crisis.
This
state option was authorized by the ARP for a period of five years and also
provided for funding to be made available by CMS for planning grants to
states to prepare for implementing qualifying community-based mobile crisis
intervention services. Additionally, states may receive an 85 percent
FMAP for expenditures on qualifying community-based mobile crisis
intervention services for the first 12 fiscal quarters within the five-year
period during which they meet the conditions outlined in statute to qualify
for the increased match.
In
2021, CMS awarded $15
million in planning grants to 20 State Medicaid Agencies for the
purpose of developing a state plan amendment, section 1115 demonstration
application, or section 1915(b) or 1915(c) waiver request (or an amendment
to such a waiver) to provide qualifying community-based mobile crisis
intervention services.
In
December 2021, CMS released a State
Health Official Letter that provides states with guidance on the scope
of and payments for qualifying community-based mobile crisis intervention
services authorized by the passage of the ARP. Since the guidance was
released, CMS has been working with all 20 of the planning grantee states
to provide them with the technical assistance that they need while they
prepare their community-based mobile crisis intervention service plans.
Receipt of a planning grant is not necessary to implement this state
option.
CMS
continues to encourage states that don’t already have qualifying
community-based mobile crisis intervention services in their state plan or
through a waiver authority to consider the benefits these services can
provide to Medicaid enrollees. For states that have questions or
would like to request technical assistance, please contact your state lead.
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