How to start a behavioral health clinic in Kansas

Kansas requires a KDADS Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program license; Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) license; KDADS CCBHC certification from Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) — Behavioral Health Services, licensing to operate a behavioral health clinic. Fee: KDADS requires a licensure fee with the application; the amount was not confirmed from a KDADS page that could be opened.

License required

Yes

License

KDADS Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program license; Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) license; KDADS CCBHC certification

Issuing agency

Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) — Behavioral Health Services, licensing

Fee

KDADS requires a licensure fee with the application; the amount was not confirmed from a KDADS page that could be opened.

Accreditation

KDADS certifies CCBHCs; KDADS-licensed CMHCs are eligible. Kansas was one of ten states added to the federal CCBHC Medicaid demonstration in 2024; CCBHCs are paid under a prospective payment system and must be Medicaid-eligible.

Regulation

K.S.A. 65-4016 and 65-4607 (SUD treatment licensure authority); K.A.R. 30-60-71

1. Review KDADS licensing requirements for the program type (SUD treatment program or CMHC)
2. Submit the KDADS application with the licensure fee to KDADS Behavioral Health Services
3. At application, provide accreditation certificates or mental health licenses, any survey findings with corrective action plans, and current staff alcohol and drug licensure information
4. Complete KDADS licensing review
5. Licensed CMHCs (and qualifying providers) may then seek KDADS CCBHC certification

Staffing

• CCBHC staffing includes licensed professionals such as LMHPs, LPCs, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, licensed addiction counselors, RNs and peer support specialists (KMAP CCBHC manual)

Program

Kansas Medical Assistance Program (KMAP) / KanCare

Enrollment portal

KMAP provider portal (provider enrollment)

Fiscal agent

Gainwell Technologies (KMAP fiscal agent)

Application fee

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.460): the state must collect the CMS application fee from institutional providers that are newly enrolling or re-enrolling; individual physicians and non-physician practitioners are exempt, as are providers already enrolled in (or that already paid the fee to) Medicare or another state's Medicaid/CHIP. CMS set the fee at $750 for calendar year 2026.

Fingerprinting

KMAP's fingerprint FAQ says high-risk applicants may be printed by any authorized law enforcement agency, which mails the card to KDHE/DHCF in an envelope the provider supplies; the check takes about 5-10 business days. Federal rule (42 CFR 455.434, 455.450(c)): providers the state places in the 'high' categorical risk level, and anyone owning 5% or more of such a provider, must submit fingerprints for a criminal background check.

Site visit

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.432, 455.450(b)-(c)): the state must do site visits before and after enrollment for providers in the 'moderate' or 'high' risk levels, and any enrolled provider must allow unannounced on-site inspections.

Revalidation

Federal rule (42 CFR 455.414): every enrolled provider must be revalidated at least once every 5 years.

Full Kansas Medicaid enrollment guide →

CON program

No

Kansas certificate of need details →

State minimum wage

$7.25 an hour

Effective

2009-07-24

Scheduled increases

No scheduled change found in the official sources reviewed.

HCBS 80/20 rule

Federal baseline: 42 CFR 441.302(k) requires the state to show that each provider spends at least 80% of Medicaid payments for homemaker, home health aide and personal care services under 1915(c) waivers on direct care worker pay and benefits. Compliance starts 2030-07-09 (for managed care, the first rating period starting on or after that date); annual payment-adequacy reporting under 441.311(e) starts 2028-07-09. A state may set a lower share for state-defined small providers and exempt providers facing hardship, each only through a public notice-and-comment process. The eCFR text has not changed since 2024-07-09. No state-published 80/20 implementation step (small-provider criteria, hardship exemption or reporting guidance) was found for this state in the official sources reviewed.

Community/behavioral health agencies and mental health clinics — active organization NPIs (NPPES)

633 (as of Sep 13, 2026)

Total Medicaid and CHIP enrollment (latest reported month)

393,912 (as of Jun 1, 2026)

All Kansas Behavioral health Medicaid rates, ranked →

• Autism Waiver (1915(c))
• HCBS Brain Injury Waiver (1915(c))
• Community Support Waiver (1915(c))
• Home and Community Based Services for the Frail Elderly Waiver (1915(c))
• HCBS Intellectual Disabilities and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver (1915(c))
• Physical Disability Waiver (1915(c))
• Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) Waiver (1915(c))
• Technology Assisted Waiver (1915(c))

Kansas waivers and waiting lists →