Christie says NJ behavioral health centers will be expanding

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie says his administration is expanding outpatient treatment centers to help New Jersey residents with mental health and addiction disorders.

Christie announced the expansion of behavioral health homes Thursday at Catholic Charities in Trenton. He says the state will expand the number of the centers from four currently to 11.

Christie's 2017 budget proposes $127 million in funds for behavioral health treatment.

The centers are designed to treat participants for all their health care needs in a coordinated way.

Christie called it a "whole-person" care delivery model.

The behavioral health home model goes back to 2014 as part of a Medicaid waiver plan.