The NC General Assembly has earmarked $5 million for capacity building for Medicaid-enrolled primary care practices across the state to adopt Collaborative Care Management (CoCM). The NCDHHS Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Use Services (DMHDDSUS) is contracting with Community Care of North Carolina (CCNC) to manage the program in partnership with North Carolina Area Health Education Centers Practice Support coaching.

CoCM is an evidence-based behavioral health integration model designed to support primary care clinicians in assessing and treating patients with mild to moderate behavioral health conditions. An evidence-based model shown to be more effective than usual care, CoCM improves patient outcomes, increases satisfaction for both patients and providers, and reduces healthcare costs and the stigma related to mental health and substance use disorders. 

A primary care practice entity applying on behalf of multiple primary care practice sites may receive a maximum of three awards per entity. Phase 1: Each clinic site may be eligible to receive awards of $50,000 to begin a CoCM model in-house. Phase 2: Additionally, $30,000 is available for practices to expand an existing in-house CoCM model and $20,000 is available to practice sites meeting Phase 1 eligibility, but planning to outsource staffing to a third-party, turn-key CoCM company.

Phase 2 application process will open on April 1, 2025 and Phase 1 will remain open.

For more information about this program, visit CCNC's webpage on CoCM capacity building fund. And, to see past recordings and slides on CoCM Capacity Building Fund webinars, click here.