Collaborative Bridges has released an issue paper detailing how Illinois is protecting behavioral health services as federal funding cuts threaten Medicaid-supported programs nationwide. The organization's analysis comes amid proposed federal reductions exceeding $1 trillion over ten years, which the paper warns could have serious consequences for safety-net systems across the country.
The Bridging the Gaps Issue Paper examines the growing national threat to Medicaid-funded behavioral health services while highlighting Illinois' innovative response through its Healthcare Transformation Collaboratives. Patrick Dombrowski, Executive Director of Collaborative Bridges, stated that communities across Illinois are facing unprecedented uncertainty, and the paper documents both the stakes and solutions already working on the ground.
Collaborative Bridges serves as a leading example of an integrated, equity-focused community care hub that has built a model both clinically effective and financially sustainable. Through partnerships with hospitals, health centers, behavioral health agencies, and justice-involved service providers, the organization has achieved a nine percent psychiatric readmission rate compared to 33 percent nationally, along with an estimated $3 million in annual Medicaid savings.
The issue paper is available in both summary and full versions, accessible for free at https://www.collaborativebridges.org. The organization is also launching its Voices campaign, an ongoing series of conversations with community leaders across Chicago's West Side that captures firsthand reflections on challenges facing safety-net communities during this period of uncertainty.
Founded in 2021, Collaborative Bridges represents a partnership of historic West Side Chicago safety net hospitals and community mental health agencies designed to ensure that people experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues receive support in their communities, particularly after hospital admissions. The model demonstrates that when hospitals, community providers, and neighborhood partners come together with shared purpose, access to care can be preserved despite financial pressures.
This Illinois approach matters because it provides a replicable model for other states facing similar federal funding reductions while maintaining quality care. The documented outcomes suggest that integrated community care systems can achieve better clinical results at lower costs, offering a potential blueprint for preserving essential behavioral health services nationwide as federal support diminishes.
