H7142
Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals -- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Accountability and Oversight Act
This bill creates a government committee to monitor mental health clinics and requires them to report their finances and performance annually.
Introduced
01/16/2026
Healthcare: Public Health
Bill Sponsors
Casimiro, J. Brien, Fascia, Chippendale, Paplauskas, Place, Hopkins, Alzate, and Solomon
Committee
House Health & Human Services
Summary
Select
This bill establishes a system of oversight and accountability for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) in Rhode Island. It creates a legislative Joint Oversight Committee to review the performance and finances of these clinics. The legislation mandates that CCBHCs submit annual audited financial reports and specific performance data, such as patient wait times and treatment outcomes, to the state. Additionally, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) must provide an annual report to the legislature summarizing the performance and compliance of these clinics to ensure transparency and quality care.
Sponsor
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Increases transparency regarding how healthcare funds are allocated by requiring disclosure of executive compensation versus programmatic spending, ensuring resources actually reach patients.
- Mandates the tracking of critical performance metrics, such as service penetration rates for high-need populations and wait times, which helps identify and address equity gaps in healthcare access.
- Establishes public oversight through hearings and publicly available reports, empowering the community to hold behavioral health providers accountable for the quality of care provided to vulnerable populations.
Cons for Progressives
- Imposes additional administrative burdens on community health clinics, which could divert valuable time and resources away from direct patient care and support services.
- The creation of a political oversight committee could lead to the politicization of mental health standards rather than relying solely on clinical experts and patient advocates.
- Focusing heavily on quantitative metrics might incentivize clinics to prioritize volume and speed over the depth and quality of long-term therapeutic relationships necessary for complex behavioral health needs.
Pros for Conservatives
- Enforces strict fiscal responsibility by requiring audited financial reports, ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not wasted on mismanagement or excessive administrative overhead.
- Mandates transparency regarding executive compensation, preventing non-profit administrators from potentially enriching themselves at the expense of public funds.
- Implements performance-based metrics to ensure that government-funded programs are actually delivering measurable results and outcomes rather than just absorbing funding without accountability.
Cons for Conservatives
- Expands the size of government by creating a new legislative joint oversight committee, effectively adding more bureaucracy to the state legislature.
- Increases the regulatory burden on private and non-profit clinics, forcing them to comply with state-mandated reporting structures that may interfere with their independent operations.
- Grants state agencies broad power to promulgate new rules and regulations, potentially leading to government overreach into the healthcare sector without sufficient checks.
Constitutional Concerns
None Likely
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs)
- Mental health patients
- Substance use patients
- Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)
- State Legislators
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
Amount unknown
Revenue Generated
None
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Public Services
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Regulatory
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Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 01/16/2026 Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Title 40.1 of the General Laws entitled "BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE, DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND HOSPITALS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: CHAPTER 8.6 CERTIFIED COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CLINICS ACCOUNTABILITY AND OVERSIGHT ACT
40.1-8.6-1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Accountability and Oversight Act."
40.1-8.6-2. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility, and service quality by certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) operating in Rhode Island. It establishes standards for oversight and requires regular reporting on established federal and state performance metrics, including those utilized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
40.1-8.6-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "CCBHC" means a certified community behavioral health clinic as defined pursuant to § 40.1-8.5-8 as recognized by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH) and/or funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(2) "EOHHS" means the Rhode Island executive office of health and human services.
(3) "Joint oversight committee on CCBHCs" or “joint oversight committee” means the legislative body established under this chapter.
40.1-8.6-4. Transparency and reporting requirements.
(a) Financial disclosures. CCBHCs shall submit annual, audited financial reports to EOHHS and the joint oversight committee including, but not limited to:
(1) Total revenue and expenditures;
(2) Executive compensation;
(3) Administrative overhead; and
(4) Programmatic spending.
(b) Performance Metrics. Each CCBHC shall report annually on the following metrics:
(1) Metrics established by SAMHSA for CCBHCs including, but not limited to:
(i) Access to care to include wait times for services;
(ii) Engagement in care to include follow-up after hospitalization;
(iii) Service penetration rates for high-need populations;
(iv) Outcomes on mental health and substance use treatment goals; and
(v) Mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) utilization and outcomes.
(2) State-determined metrics, which may include:
(i) Patient satisfaction scores;
(ii) Emergency department diversion outcomes;
(iii) Staff-to-client ratios; and
(iv) Coordination with schools, primary care, and other local systems.
(c) Data submission. All required reports shall be:
(1) Filed with EOHHS by December 31 of each year; and
(2) Made publicly available on the EOHHS website within thirty (30) days of submission.
40.1-8.6-5. Joint oversight committee on CCBHCs.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby created a joint oversight committee of the general assembly on CCBHC Oversight.
(b) Membership.
(1) The joint oversight committee shall consist of eight (8) members:
(i) Four (4) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house LC003885 - Page 2 of 4 no more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same political party; and
(ii) Four (4) members of the senate appointed by the senate president, no more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same political party;
(2) Appointments shall reflect bipartisan representation and include members from committees related to health, finance, and oversight.
(c) Powers and duties. The joint oversight committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Review annual CCBHC financial and performance reports;
(2) Hold public hearings and receive testimony from relevant stakeholders;
(3) Evaluate the impact of CCBHCs on state behavioral health policy; and
(4) Recommend legislative or regulatory changes as needed.
40.1-8.6-6. Annual report by EOHHS.
The secretary of the EOHHS shall:
(1) Submit a written report to the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the joint oversight committee by January 31 of each year
(2) This report shall summarize:
(i) Statewide performance of all certified CCBHCs;
(ii) Compliance with financial and performance reporting standards; and
(iii) Recommendations for quality improvement, funding models, and regulation.
40.1-8.6-7. Implementation -- Rules and regulations.
EOHHS shall:
(1) Promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce the reporting requirements of this chapter; and
(2) Establish a standardized format and platform for annual CCBHC reporting.
40.1-8.6-8. Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
40.1-8.6-1. Short title.
This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Accountability and Oversight Act."
40.1-8.6-2. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to ensure transparency, fiscal responsibility, and service quality by certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) operating in Rhode Island. It establishes standards for oversight and requires regular reporting on established federal and state performance metrics, including those utilized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
40.1-8.6-3. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) "CCBHC" means a certified community behavioral health clinic as defined pursuant to § 40.1-8.5-8 as recognized by the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals (BHDDH) and/or funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
(2) "EOHHS" means the Rhode Island executive office of health and human services.
(3) "Joint oversight committee on CCBHCs" or “joint oversight committee” means the legislative body established under this chapter.
40.1-8.6-4. Transparency and reporting requirements.
(a) Financial disclosures. CCBHCs shall submit annual, audited financial reports to EOHHS and the joint oversight committee including, but not limited to:
(1) Total revenue and expenditures;
(2) Executive compensation;
(3) Administrative overhead; and
(4) Programmatic spending.
(b) Performance Metrics. Each CCBHC shall report annually on the following metrics:
(1) Metrics established by SAMHSA for CCBHCs including, but not limited to:
(i) Access to care to include wait times for services;
(ii) Engagement in care to include follow-up after hospitalization;
(iii) Service penetration rates for high-need populations;
(iv) Outcomes on mental health and substance use treatment goals; and
(v) Mobile response and stabilization services (MRSS) utilization and outcomes.
(2) State-determined metrics, which may include:
(i) Patient satisfaction scores;
(ii) Emergency department diversion outcomes;
(iii) Staff-to-client ratios; and
(iv) Coordination with schools, primary care, and other local systems.
(c) Data submission. All required reports shall be:
(1) Filed with EOHHS by December 31 of each year; and
(2) Made publicly available on the EOHHS website within thirty (30) days of submission.
40.1-8.6-5. Joint oversight committee on CCBHCs.
(a) Establishment. There is hereby created a joint oversight committee of the general assembly on CCBHC Oversight.
(b) Membership.
(1) The joint oversight committee shall consist of eight (8) members:
(i) Four (4) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house LC003885 - Page 2 of 4 no more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same political party; and
(ii) Four (4) members of the senate appointed by the senate president, no more than three (3) of whom shall be from the same political party;
(2) Appointments shall reflect bipartisan representation and include members from committees related to health, finance, and oversight.
(c) Powers and duties. The joint oversight committee shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) Review annual CCBHC financial and performance reports;
(2) Hold public hearings and receive testimony from relevant stakeholders;
(3) Evaluate the impact of CCBHCs on state behavioral health policy; and
(4) Recommend legislative or regulatory changes as needed.
40.1-8.6-6. Annual report by EOHHS.
The secretary of the EOHHS shall:
(1) Submit a written report to the speaker of the house, the senate president, and the joint oversight committee by January 31 of each year
(2) This report shall summarize:
(i) Statewide performance of all certified CCBHCs;
(ii) Compliance with financial and performance reporting standards; and
(iii) Recommendations for quality improvement, funding models, and regulation.
40.1-8.6-7. Implementation -- Rules and regulations.
EOHHS shall:
(1) Promulgate rules and regulations to implement and enforce the reporting requirements of this chapter; and
(2) Establish a standardized format and platform for annual CCBHC reporting.
40.1-8.6-8. Severability.
If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.