Expanding Centerstone’s Focused Care in Illinois

In October 2024, Centerstone opened its Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) in Alton, Illinois. CCBHCs provide holistic, comprehensive, evidence-based behavioral healthcare to anyone who needs support for addiction or mental health concerns. CCBHCs also provide 24/7 crisis response services.

Centerstone’s CCBHC in Alton will serve adults and children who come for care, regardless of their ability to pay. Centestone’s doors are open to everyone.

CCBHC’s core services
The Alton CCBHC was first funded through competitive grants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). On October 1, 2024, it became part of the State of Illinois’ Medicaid CCBHC demonstration program. The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Act established the criteria and federal definition for CCBHCs and all CCBHCs are required to provide these nine core services:

• Crisis services
• Outpatient mental health and substance use services
• Person- and family-centered treatment planning
• Community-based mental health care for veterans
• Peer family support and counselor services
• ACT/Targeted care management
• Outpatient primary care screening and monitoring
• Psychiatric rehabilitation services
• Screening, diagnosis and risk assessment

Centerstone’s CCBHC team includes our customer care team (call center and front desk), assessment team, mobile crisis response team, outpatient mental health and addiction treatment teams, health home, case management, psychiatry and nursing.

CCBHCs must also coordinate with local primary care providers and hospitals to integrate patients’ primary healthcare with behavioral healthcare.

Centerstone’s CCBHC offers in-person and virtual patient visits, depending on patient needs and preferences.

A focus on outcomes, not volume
CCBHCs receive flexible funding based on the real costs of care for the community. The focus is on quality and patient outcomes. This model is the future and it will be transformational not just for Centerstone, but the entire mental health profession.

This outcomes-based model will provide better patient care and a more sustainable workload for our team members, allowing them to spend more time with each patient. We’re excited Illinois chose Centerstone as a partner to pursue this care model. It will better serve underrepresented populations by bringing all behavioral healthcare partners to the table with a significant emphasis on results.

A more sustainable model for behavioral health providers
Post-pandemic, there seems to be more willingness to seek behavioral healthcare among community members experiencing addiction or mental health issues. People aren’t afraid to admit they need care. However, this has increased our volume and our industry is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals. There’s a massive demand for behavioral healthcare from all sectors of the community.

Burnout is common among behavioral healthcare providers, particularly as they’re required to see a high number of patients with critical mental health needs. CCBHC is sustainable for our providers and patients and this model allows us to serve our patients while being fairly compensated for the cost of care.

Centerstone’s mission and vision
The CCBHC model aligns with Centerstone’s goal to be the voice for community mental health, our patients and our caregivers; be the leader for proven approaches, outcomes and value in our field; and be the home for practitioners and mission-driven professionals.

“Every community deserves a CCBHC, and it’s my hope and vision to eventually make all Centerstone outpatient locations in Illinois CCBHC sites,” said Anne Tyree, Regional CEO for Centerstone.

Patients can access care at the CCBHC by contacting Centerstone at 877-HOPE123.

Learn more about Centerstone’s first state-certified CCBHC in Illinois (and our CCBHCs in other states like Indiana) by visiting our CCBHC Information page.