Certified Specialty Provider (CSP) Conversion to a Community Mental Health Center (CMHC)

The CSP organization should work with their designated Certifying State Agency (CSA) in completing the steps for conversion of a servicing location from a CSP to a CMHC.

If 50% or more of the funding source for community mental health treatment, for the CMHC organization as a whole, is from the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS)-Division of Mental Health (DMH) or if the funding source from both DHS-DMH and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are considered equal, DHS serves as the designated Certifying State Agency (CSA). If more than 50% of the funding source for community mental health treatment, for the CMHC organization as a whole, is from DCFS, DCFS serves as the designated CSA. Questions regarding who serves as the designated CSA may be forwarded to DHS-DMH Provider Access, Credentialing, and Enrollment Unit (PACE) at DHS.DMHProviderAssist@illinois.gov  or DCFS-IPI at DCFS.Medicaid@illinois.gov.

DHS-DMH-PACE and the DHS-Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure and Certification (BALC) shall assist with completion of the requirements if DHS is the designated CSA. The Infant Parent Institute (IPI) shall assist with completion of the requirements if DCFS is the designated CSA.

The following are the steps for conversion of a CSP to a CMHC:

1. CSP Notifies CSA of Conversion

Written notification must be submitted to the designated CSA, DHS-DMH-PACE at DHS.DMHProviderAssist@illinois.gov  or DCFS-IPI at DCFS.Medicaid@illinois.gov, when a CSP site is wanting to convert to a CMHC. The notification should include the:

  • Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Tax Identification Number (TIN) of the organization
  • Address of the site
  • Primary contact name and title
  • Primary contact email address and telephone number

2. Steps Taken to Become Certificated as a CMHC

The organization should follow the steps as outlined in the website workflow for "New CMHC Certification" if the organization does not have other operating CMHC sites under its EIN/TIN or

The organization should follow the steps as outlined in the website workflow for "Adding a CMHC Servicing Location" if the organization does have other operating CMHC sites under its EIN/TIN.