Ensuring Excellence in Mental Health Act

This bill establishes Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) as a new category of providers eligible for Medicaid and Medicare coverage, requiring them to provide comprehensive mental health and substance use services including crisis intervention, screening, treatment planning, and outpatient care. It creates a Medicaid payment system for CCBHC services and extends Medicare coverage, while setting certification criteria that include 24/7 crisis services, no denial of care based on ability to pay, and coordination with other health providers. The bill authorizes $552.5 million annually from 2024 through 2028 for grants to help clinics meet certification standards and provides funding for data collection systems to track clinic performance and patient outcomes. These provisions aim to improve access to integrated behavioral health services, particularly in underserved communities and rural areas.