Medicaid and Public Mental Health
Services for Adults

The Treatment Bureau oversees Adult Mental Health services within Montana’s Medicaid-funded programs. The Bureau is responsible for developing and overseeing the systems used to deliver and reimburse adult mental health services, ensuring services are available, effective, and delivered efficiently to individuals across the state.

 The Treatment Bureau works with state and federal stakeholders to assess program fidelity and ensure adult mental health services are delivered in alignment with applicable state statutes, federal requirements, and evidence-based practices. This includes providing clinical guidance to Mental Health Centers consistent with the BHDD Medicaid Services Provider Manual, supporting high-quality and consistent service delivery statewide.

 In addition, the Treatment Bureau conducts ongoing monitoring of program implementation and operations and analyzes service utilization, costs, and outcomes to support continuous system improvement. The Bureau partners with the Office of Inspector General, including the OIG Licensing Bureau and Compliance Bureau, to support routine oversight and quality management. When appropriate, the Bureau also collaborates with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) to promote program integrity and help ensure Medicaid-funded services comply with applicable laws and requirements.

 

Program and Services


The Waiver for Additional Services and Populations (WASP) helps adults with serious mental health conditions get Medicaid coverage when they do not qualify for other Medicaid programs. If approved, individuals receive standard Medicaid benefits, which may include mental health care and other health services.

Adults may qualify if they are 18 or older, have a severe and disabling mental illness, and meet income requirements. Applications may be submitted by the individual or with help from a mental health provider.


The Severe Disabling Mental Illness (SDMI) Home and Community Based (HCBS) Waiver is a Medicaid program that helps adults with a serious and long-term mental illness get additional support so they can live in their community rather than in a nursing facility.

Adults who qualify are 18 or older, meet Medicaid rules, and have a certified SDMI diagnosis and level of need. If approved, they can receive community-based services that support daily living, health, and independence.

The program is designed to help people remain safely in their homes and communities while getting the care and supports they need through Montana Medicaid.


The County and Tribal Matching Grants for Crisis Intervention and Jail Diversion program helps local and tribal governments build and expand crisis intervention and jail diversion services in their communities. These grants match local funds with state dollars to support crisis services that keep people closer to home and out of jail or the Montana State Hospital.

Counties and federally recognized tribal governments work with local partners — including law enforcement, health care providers, and community organizations — to create plans that improve crisis response and offer alternatives to incarceration for people experiencing mental health or behavioral health crises.


The Guilty But Mentally Ill (GBMI) program provides mental health group home services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system who are placed in the custody of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS). These services support individuals with serious mental health or developmental disabilities as they transition toward community living.

Individuals may be eligible if a court determines they were experiencing a mental disorder or developmental disability at the time of their offense and approves placement in a GBMI group home. Approved providers deliver daily treatment and support focused on community adjustment, daily living skills, social connection, and preparation for employment or education.

Individual Specialized Services (Goal 189) helps adults leaving the Montana State Hospital or those at risk of needing to go there get short-term support to move safely into the community. This program provides temporary funding for everyday needs — like housing costs, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, and other basic supports — to help people stabilize and avoid returning to inpatient care.

Goal 189 is designed to support community living and reduce barriers after discharge or to prevent a hospital stay when other resources have been used. Adults must be 18 or older and have recently been discharged from or at risk of admission to a psychiatric facility to be considered for this support.


A Mental Health Professional Person (MHPP) are licensed professionals authorized under Montana law to carry out specific legal and clinical responsibilities for individuals with severe mental illness. Their role includes participating in mental health admissions, court-ordered commitments, emergency detentions, treatment decisions, and patient transitions, helping ensure services are delivered safely, appropriately, and in accordance with state law.

The Treatment Bureau of the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division (BHDD) oversees the certification of MHPPs. Certification is governed by Montana statute and administrative rule and is limited to qualified, licensed professionals who meet established education, training, and competency standards. The certification process includes a formal application, successful completion of a proctored examination, and ongoing recertification to support professional accountability, legal compliance, and protection of individual rights.

Mental Health Center List

Montana’s Adult Mental Health Centers are community-based providers that offer a range of mental health services, including outpatient therapy, case management, peer support, crisis stabilization, and other supports across the state. These centers help adults access care close to home and can include telehealth options to increase access in rural areas.

The Treatment Bureau within the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Division (BHDD) maintains an active, up-to-date list of Adult Mental Health Centers that are licensed through the Office of Inspector General (OIG). This list is updated quarterly each year to reflect current approved providers available to serve Montanans needing mental health support.

Partners in Mental Health

The Montana Mental Disabilities Board of Visitors is an independent oversight body established by the Montana Legislature to monitor publicly funded mental health services and facilities. The Board’s role is to help ensure services are delivered in compliance with state law, protect patient rights, and promote safe, appropriate, and humane treatment.

For providers, the Board conducts facility reviews, site visits, and program monitoring, including observation of treatment practices, use of restrictive interventions, and overall conditions of care. The Board may review policies, interview staff and individuals receiving services, and make recommendations aimed at improving quality, compliance, and system performance.

The Board also provides legal and advocacy services for patients at the Montana State Hospital and may be involved when grievances or rights-related concerns arise. Providers are expected to cooperate with Board activities and support transparency and access as part of Montana’s accountability and quality oversight framework.


The Montana Mental Health Ombudsman serves as an independent resource and advocate for individuals receiving publicly funded mental health services in Montana, including those in community settings and treatment facilities. The Ombudsman helps ensure that individuals’ rights are respected and that concerns about care, access, or treatment are addressed fairly and promptly.

For providers, the Ombudsman functions as an external point of contact for questions or complaints that may not be resolved through usual clinical or administrative channels. When contacted, the Ombudsman may facilitate communication between individuals, families, and service providers to clarify issues, explain rights and responsibilities, and seek mutually acceptable resolutions.

While the Ombudsman does not regulate or oversee clinical practice or licensing, the office can assist in identifying systemic barriers, patterns of concern, or areas where further clarification of policy or practice may be helpful. Providers are encouraged to engage constructively with the Ombudsman’s office when requests for information or involvement are made, as this partnership can support quality improvement, transparency, and patient-centered care.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides national guidance, standards, and funding for mental health and substance use disorder services. SAMHSA supports evidence-based practices, recovery-oriented care, and system improvement across prevention, treatment, crisis services, and recovery supports.

SAMHSA also offers training, technical assistance, data resources, and grant opportunities that help states and providers strengthen service delivery, improve outcomes, and align programs with federal expectations. These resources support workforce development, quality improvement, and expanded access to care for individuals and families.

Resources and Reports

Provider Information and Fee Schedules

This page provides access to Montana Medicaid fee schedules, which list billing rates based on the provider type enrolled with Medicaid. Fee schedules are used by providers to determine allowable reimbursement amounts for covered services.

Selecting the link above will take you to an external website maintained by Montana Medicaid, where current fee schedules and related billing information are posted. Providers should refer to these schedules when submitting claims to ensure services are billed accurately and in accordance with Medicaid requirements.

National and state data sources provide valuable information on behavioral health trends, service access, workforce capacity, and outcomes. Resources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC FastStats, Mental Health America state rankings, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) data sets offer insight into population needs and system performance.

Montana-specific reports, including Medicaid analyses and workforce studies from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE), can be used by providers for educational purposes, training, program planning, and quality improvement efforts. Together, these resources support evidence-based practice and informed decision-making across behavioral health services.