Federal Policy
SAMHSA Awards $19M in Block Grant Funding for SMI Housing Programs
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration announced $19 million in supplemental Community Mental Health Services Block Grant funding to strengthen housing capacity for homeless individuals with serious mental illness. The funding addresses the intersection of homelessness and SMI through state-administered block grant programs. States will receive allocations to expand housing-related services and supports for this population. This matters for Medicaid managed care organizations because behavioral health plans often coordinate with state housing programs and provide wraparound services for members experiencing homelessness with SMI diagnoses.
Why it mattersMedicaid MCOs with behavioral health contracts will see increased state capacity to support housing services for high-cost members with serious mental illness, potentially affecting care coordination responsibilities and whole-person care initiatives.