Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH)
🏛 Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations developing and testing innovative behavioral health service models. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community health centers, and state/local health agencies. Projects must focus on mental health or substance use disorder treatment delivered in primary care or health center settings. Activities supported include planning, piloting, and evaluating integrated behavioral health programs. Geographic scope is nationwide, including U.S. territories.
Priority areas typically include care integration, workforce development, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Projects must demonstrate partnerships between primary care and behavioral health providers. Applicants must commit to data collection and outcome measurement throughout the grant period.
This grant is for organizations developing and testing innovative behavioral health service models. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community health centers, and state/local health agencies. Projects must focus on mental health or substance use disorder treatment delivered in primary care or health center settings. Activities supported include planning, piloting, and evaluating integrated behavioral health programs. Geographic scope is nationwide, including U.S. territories.
Priority areas typically include care integration, workforce development, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Projects must demonstrate partnerships between primary care and behavioral health providers. Applicants must commit to data collection and outcome measurement throughout the grant period.
Program description
The Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model (the “Model”) for Cohort II Recipients is a seven-year, voluntary service delivery and payment model promoting integrated care in behavioral health (BH) settings. The IBH Model will test the impact of a value-based payment (VBP) model aligned across Medicaid and Medicare that supports an integrated care delivery framework in specialty BH organizations and settings for adult Medicaid, Medicare, and dually eligible beneficiaries with moderate to severe mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders (SUDs).
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through its Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (Innovation Center), will select up to five state Medicaid agencies (SMAs) to participate in the Model. The Model will have a seven-year performance period, which will be comprised of a two-year Pre-Implementation Period (beginning January 2027 and ending December 2028) along with a five-year Implementation Period (beginning January 2029 and ending December 2033). Up to $7.5 million dollars in cooperative agreement award funding will be available to each selected Recipient over the course of the seven years.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
- 501(c)(3) Public Charity
- Community Health Center
- FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center)
- Mental Health Clinic
- State Government
Demographic focus
Details
This grant is for organizations developing and testing innovative behavioral health service models. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, community health centers, and state/local health agencies. Projects must focus on mental health or substance use disorder treatment delivered in primary care or health center settings. Activities supported include planning, piloting, and evaluating integrated behavioral health programs. Geographic scope is nationwide, including U.S. territories.
Priority areas typically include care integration, workforce development, and implementation of evidence-based practices. Projects must demonstrate partnerships between primary care and behavioral health providers. Applicants must commit to data collection and outcome measurement throughout the grant period.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- SF-424 (Federal Application form)
- Project Narrative (including goals, methods, evaluation plan)
- Budget and Budget Narrative
- Letters of Support from partner organizations
- Organizational capability/staffing plan
- Timeline and milestones
- Data collection and evaluation framework
Program contact
- 👤 Jamie M Atwood Senior Grants Policy Specialist
- 📧 IBHModel@cms.hhs.gov
- 📞 301-492-4295
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 93.610 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$5,693,155
-
$2,250,000
-
$2,237,668
-
$2,219,275
-
$0
Top States by Funding
- MD 1 awards $5.7M
- NY 1 awards $2.3M
- MI 1 awards $2.2M
- SC 1 awards $2.2M
- OK 1 awards $0.0M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Federal obligations (CFDA 93.610). How funding has trended year over year.
| 2026 est. | $7,500,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
501(c)(3) nonprofits, community health centers (FQHCs), community mental health centers, and state/local government agencies. Tribal organizations may also be eligible.
What types of behavioral health activities does the grant support?
Integration of mental health and substance use services into primary care settings. Workforce training, care coordination, and implementation science projects.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, the deadline is June 3, 2026. The application period opens October 16, 2025. Plan ahead as federal applications are complex.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. CMS awards funds to organizations demonstrating strong partnerships, feasibility, and evaluation capacity. Prior federal funding experience is advantageous.
What is the typical funding range?
CMS typically awards $100K–$500K annually for Innovation in Behavioral Health, depending on project scope. Multi-year awards are common.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Start building partnerships now. CMS strongly favors applications showing primary care and behavioral health collaboration.
- Develop a detailed implementation and evaluation plan early. Data collection capacity and timeline are major review criteria.
- Use current evidence-based behavioral health practices as your foundation. Show how your model advances the field.
- Budget realistically for staffing, training, and evaluation. Underfunded projects are often rejected at review.
- Engage your state and local health officials early. Their support letters strengthen competitiveness significantly.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Weak partnerships between primary care and behavioral health providers hurt competitiveness. Vague evaluation plans and unclear metrics lead to rejection. Budgets that underestimate staffing, training, or evaluation costs signal poor planning and are flagged by reviewers.
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