CBHS Clearinghouse: What AFHs Need to Know
Adult family home providers now have access to a new centralized billing tool designed to streamline participation in the Community Behavioral Health Support (CBHS) program. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) has contracted with Community Health Partnership Services (CHPS) to serve as the program’s clearinghouse, also known as a third-party administrator (TPA).
The CBHS program, established through the collective bargaining agreement between HCA and the Adult Family Home Council (AFHC), expands behavioral health service capacity in AFHs. The addition of a clearinghouse marks a significant step toward simplifying billing and administrative processes for participating providers.
One Portal for CBHS Claims
Through CHPS, AFHs can now submit CBHS claims in a single location for both managed care organizations (MCOs) and HCA. This centralized system is intended to reduce administrative burden and improve payment efficiency.
In addition to claims submission, CHPS offers hands-on support to help providers:
Contract with managed care organizations.
Enroll in ProviderOne.
Navigate the payment process for CBHS services.
This support is particularly important for providers new to Medicaid billing or behavioral health service delivery.
While the clearinghouse simplifies billing, AFHs must still complete several required steps to participate in CBHS:
Complete HCA’s Provider Enrollment process.
Sign a Core Provider Agreement (CPA).
Become credentialed and contracted with MCOs.
CHPS can assist with each of these steps. To begin using the clearinghouse and access available training resources, AFHs must register directly with CHPS
Not a Member Yet?
Membership fees enable the Council to cover legal expenses and fund staff to advocate with the state and regulatory agencies. The participation of every adult family home is vital to ensuring fair regulations and rates that accurately reflect the costs of caring for our vulnerable adults. Consider becoming a member of the Council to help us continue improving conditions for all adult family homes in Washington State.