LINCOLN — Seven behavioral health care providers have been selected to launch a new certification program designed to improve mental health and substance use care across the state — and provide around-the-clock crisis help for Nebraskans.

Called the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics initiative, the effort has been described as “transformational.” To start, it will involve: CenterPointe, Community Alliance, Heartland Counseling Services, Heartland Family Services, Lutheran Family Services, South Central Behavioral Health Services and The Well.

“This is a significant step for Nebraska,” said Matt Ahern, interim director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Medicaid and Long-Term Care division. “We’re really excited about this model because it incentivizes a more integrated care — a whole person approach rather than segmenting behavioral health from physical health and everything else happening in a person’s life.”

Serves all

Selection of providers, announced Wednesday, follows passage last year of Legislative Bill 276, the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Act, sponsored by State Sen. Anna Wishart of Lincoln and signed into law by Gov. Jim Pillen. 

CCBHCs emerged from the Excellence in Mental Health Act, a federal law signed in 2014 to improve the nation’s mental health system. The model ensures that clinics provide a wide array of services, such as crisis response, medication management, psychotherapy and community and peer support.

In return, providers are allowed to participate in a restructured payment model that better accounts for costs associated with services, according to a DHHS news release. Certified clinics are required to serve anyone who requests care for mental health or substance use, regardless of their ability to pay, place of residence or age. 

Over the next year, the Nebraska DHHS divisions of Behavioral Health and Medicaid and Long-Term Care will work with the seven provider organizations to develop services needed to meet the state requirements and federal criteria determined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

Programs are to be up and running by January 2026.

“The CCBHC model allows a clinic to truly focus on delivering the quality of care and breadth of services a person needs,” said Thomas Janousek, director of DHHS Behavioral Health. “It focuses on reducing administrative barriers for providers which ultimately results in better care for the individuals it serves.”

‘No-brainer’

By launching the initiative, Wishart said, the state is “transforming” the way Nebraskans access mental health and substance abuse care, in a coordinated and comprehensive way that fills service gaps.

“This is a monumental step toward building healthier and stronger communities,” she said Wednesday.

Wishart has said she expects the CCBHCs to reduce emergency room visits and incarcerations. Data from other states that have implemented such clinics have shown reductions in law enforcement involvement and hospital usage, state officials have said.

Pillen has called the legislation a “no-brainer” for Nebraska. His testimony at a legislative hearing in early 2023 surprised some, as the Republican governor stepped across the political aisle to speak on behalf of a bill introduced by a Democrat, Wishart. 

At the time, Pillen said that Nebraskans “must come together to solve tough problems.”

After completing the certification program, a provider is to be recognized as a CCBHC, offering integrated physical and behavioral health services to Nebraska families. Services are to include: around-the-clock crisis support; easy access to mental health and substance use care; tailored treatment plans; specialized care for veterans and military personnel; peer support; comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A pedestrian was killed early Tuesday morning in a crash in eastern Nebraska, the Otoe County Sheriff’s Office says.

Around 5 a.m., deputies received a report of a pedestrian wearing dark-colored clothing walking on Highway 2 near Nebraska City.

Before deputies arrived, the pedestrian — later identified as 18-year-old Harrell Jackson Jr. of Omaha — had been hit by a vehicle.

First responders tried saving Jackson’s life, but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office said Jackson had been walking in the traffic lane on the Highway 2 on-ramp when he was hit by a vehicle.

An investigation is ongoing.

LINCOLN, Neb. (WOWT) – In the two weeks since arriving on campus, Dana Holgorsen has spent most of his waking hours in the Huskers facility and film room.

In addition to prepping for Wisconsin, Nebraska’s new offensive coordinator said he is still learning the offense and players’ names. As for why he would want to take on such a gargantuan task midseason?

“I was bored,” he said with a laugh in his first time speaking to reporters. “I was slated to go back to Fort Worth on Sunday night and [Matt] Rhule called and said I need your help.”

While Holgorsen’s appointment officially runs through the end of the regular season, Rhule has stated he hopes the former Houston and West Virginia head coach stays in Lincoln. For now, Holgorsen is just focused on getting up to speed.

“I don’t know what December is going to look like, I don’t know what January is going to look like. I don’t care,” he said. “100 percent of my focus is trying to get our offense better to where we can win against Wisconsin Saturday.”

Holgorsen didn’t need to be here long to know the perimeter blocking needs work.

“There’s some good sized kids out there,” he said, identifying Janiran Bonner, Isaiah Neyor, Jahmal Banks and Carter Nelson by numbers only. “These guys are big bodies.  I’m like ‘Why are you not blocking worth a crap on the perimeter?’ It’s embarrassing. First thing I said to them is that if you don’t start blocking out there, you’re not going to get the ball thrown to you. This past week was our best perimeter blocking of the season.”

Wisconsin has won 10 straight meetings with Nebraska, including four straight in Lincoln. An end to those streaks would finally give Nebraska win No. 6 and bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016.

“It’s shocking to me that it’s been that long that a program like this hasn’t been to a bowl game,” he said. “Doesn’t make any sense to me. But it is where we’re at. We tried everything we could to win that game last week, and we had a chance still. We’ll do everything we can this week and we’ll have a chance to.”

After Wisconsin fired OC Phil Longo over the weekend, Holgorsen will now be the veteran offensive coordinator Saturday against the Badgers.

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