Would you believe that Rhode Island,
a state nestled among world-renowned
hospital systems and a high density
of biotech and medical research,
has among the highest rate of adult
mental illness in the United States
at 24%1 of the state’s population?
That’s nearly one in four of the
state’s adults living with a mental
health challenge. Additionally, Rhode
Island surpasses both the national
average as well as all other New
England states for adult inpatient
admissions due to mental illness. And
there’s more. Adults in Rhode Island
report unmet needs for behavioral
health services more frequently than
adults in other New England states.
Furthermore, 34%2 of Rhode Island
children who required mental health
treatment or counseling in the past
year did not receive it. This issue is
particularly pronounced for young
adults experiencing first psychotic
episodes who require intensive services.
What is the solution? Certified
Community Behavioral Health
Clinics (CCBHC)
In 2015, the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
published a set of criteria to improve community
mental health centers and to establish
CCBHC. In October 2024, Rhode Island
joined the group of 183 states in the national
demonstration program of this initiative.
CCBHCs are specialized clinics that provide
a wide range of behavioral health services,
including mental health and substance use
support. These clinics provide services to
individuals of all ages — regardless of their
insurance status or ability to pay. CCBHCs are
certified by the state and offer a comprehensive
range of services, including 24/7 crisis support.
These specialized clinics are designed to serve
as a critical part of the behavioral health
safety net. They increase access to care and
provide care for very challenging populations
— individuals with serious mental illnesses
and substance use disorders. As part of their
mandate, CCBHCs are required to collaborate
with other healthcare providers, community
organizations, and social service agencies
to provide more comprehensive support to
clients trying to navigate complexities of their
healthcare. This includes streamlining the
referral process, improving care coordination,
and ensuring holistic care. One important
collaboration is with the pharmacy partners.
Pharmacy collaboration is important because
CCBHC’s specifically support patients
using programs such as Medication Assisted
Treatment (MAT) also known as Medications
for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), Intensive
Outpatient Programs (IOP), Opioid Treatment
Program (OTP), and alcohol use disorders.
An important aspect to the success of these
evidence-based programs is good medication
adherence — another area where patients
need strong support. Pharmacies work to
provide this support. One such example is
providing clients with multi-dose packaging.
How does multi-dose packaging
support CCBHC and its clients?
In behavioral health, individuals require
clear instructions to adhere to complicated
medication regimens. Multi-dose packaging
is an important tool to help. It utilizes cold-
sealed or heat-sealed blister packs, organizing
medications by specific times and dates into a
28-blister card. Each blister contains medication
for a particular time of day and is color-coded
to correspond with the time (e.g., yellow for
FALL 2025 I RETAIL/COMMUNITY • SPECIALTY • LTC
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Medication,
Access, & Hope
LTC Pharmacies Empower CCBHCs in Behavioral Health
Contributed by Jason Dana Costa, President and CEO, Horizon Pharmacy