Why did we choose to become a B Corp, and what does it mean?

At Community Medical Services (CMS), our mission has always been clear: to help those who are suffering from substance use disorders. Every day, we see the pain and struggles experienced by individuals and families affected by this crisis — and every day, we commit ourselves to serving others, by providing compassionate, effective care that helps people find hope and healing.

But we believe our responsibility goes beyond the essential services we provide. As a company, we recognize that the way we operate — our business practices, our values, and our impact on the communities we serve — matters just as much as the care we deliver. This is why we made the decision and put forth the effort to pursue becoming a Benefits Corporation and earning the esteemed distinction that comes with B Corp certification.

B Corp certification isn’t just a badge. It’s a rigorous and comprehensive assessment of how well we meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. It’s about ensuring that our commitment to our Mission, Vision and Values is reflected not just in our clinical work, but in the way we run our organization every day. And it’s a commitment to put patient care before financial performance.

Our vision at CMS is to lead the change in eliminating the consequences of opioid use. The opioid crisis is one of the most pressing public health challenges of our time — and to lead change, we know that we have to look beyond traditional models of care and think differently about how we serve our communities. That’s where B Corp certification comes in. It challenges us to see every obstacle that hinders our vision as an opportunity to demonstrate initiative and innovation. It pushes us to be more intentional about our impact — not just on our patients, but on our employees, our partners, and the communities we serve. It’s a framework that helps us measure and improve the ways we support equity, sustainability, and long-term well-being.

Doing the right thing is usually hard and should involve a trade-off. To that end, we’re holding ourselves accountable to the high standards we set for patient care and extending that accountability to every aspect of our organization. From ensuring fair and supportive workplace practices to reducing our environmental footprint and deepening our community partnerships, we want every part of CMS to reflect the same commitment to ethical business practices, compassion, integrity, and excellence.

CMS leaders believe that business can be a force for good and that companies that succeed financially do so by putting the needs of their customers first. Pursuing B Corp certification is a natural extension of the work we do every day. It’s a way to formalize and strengthen our commitment to positive impact, to align our business practices with our mission, and to lead by example in the healthcare space. We know that real change requires more than words — it requires action, accountability, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. We do so with the hope that our efforts will inspire others to join us in building a more compassionate, equitable, and sustainable future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us! Together, we can create lasting change for the communities we serve and towards society overall!