Oklahoma Demands Accountability and Transparency from Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) is taking decisive action to ensure fiscal responsibility and oversight of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) following concerns about financial mismanagement and lack of transparency. Despite significant state funding and revenue generation, ODMHSAS has not been given a clear financial picture of CCBHC operations. As a result, no additional state funds will be distributed to CCBHCs until we receive more insight into their financial standing.

“For too long, these entities have been allowed to grow and scale without the necessary accountability,” said ODMHSAS Commissioner Allie Friesen. “Oklahomans rely on these services, and we must ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly. Our goal is to bring immediate transparency to how CCBHCs operate and ensure they are truly benefiting the people they were designed to serve.”

In FY 2023, Family and Children Services reported $137 million in revenue. CREOKS reported $76.8 million in revenue, with executive compensation totaling $2,885,313 and a CEO salary of $1,108,886. Grand Mental Health ranked fourth in the nation for revenue at $190,858,770, with total executive compensation reaching $7,147,087 and a CEO salary of $1,390,376.

In contrast, in FY 2023, Sandhills Center for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services reported $533 million in revenue yet paid their executives a total of $1,695,227, with a CEO salary of $333,129. These stark differences highlight significant inequities between CCBHCs and other mental health providers across the state of Oklahoma.

The Governor echoed the urgency for reform, stating, “I applaud ODMHSAS for looking at every expense. We will hold CCBHCs accountable. We should be asking more questions. Are these state dollars helping Oklahomans? Or are they being spent at top levels of bureaucracies? I absolutely applaud Commissioner Allie Friesen for asking these questions and I encourage our agency heads to keep asking questions to ensure tax dollars are being spent wisely.”

As part of this effort, ODMHSAS is implementing new guardrails to oversee the growth and financial integrity of CCBHCs. Through a comprehensive legislative review and financial due diligence process, the department has been working to identify inefficiencies and ensure resources are being utilized properly. Moving forward, an official Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be established to govern how CCBHCs report their finances and demonstrate the impact of their services.

“We want CCBHCs to be successful, but that will only happen with the proper oversight and accountability. The state has a duty to ensure that every dollar allocated to mental health services is accounted for and directed toward those who need it most,” Commissioner Allie Friesen continued. “This is about responsibility, transparency, and ultimately providing the best care possible to Oklahomans.”

ODMHSAS remains committed to enhancing mental health and substance abuse services across the state while ensuring fiscal responsibility and integrity in service delivery.