CHA News

Hospitals Can Now Apply for Funds to Treat Patients with Behavioral Health Needs

What’s happening: Following the March 2024 passage of CHA-supported Proposition 1, applications are now open for $4.4 billion in new Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program (BHCIP) funding to support capital projects that expand the behavioral health services continuum.  

What else to know: Hospitals can start the application process now for the first round of grants. Required pre-application consultation must be requested by Oct. 15, and applications are due by Dec. 13. 

All types of hospitals are eligible to apply for grants to acquire, build, or rehabilitate space to expand access to a variety of different mental health and/or substance use disorder services, including:  

  • Acute psychiatric inpatient care 
  • Urgent care or crisis stabilization 
  • Chemical dependency recovery hospital 
  • Hospital-based outpatient treatment for substance use disorders, including detoxification/withdrawal management 
  • Narcotic treatment program (methadone) medication unit  
  • Office-based opioid treatment 
  • Partial hospitalization services  
  • Sobering services 

The project must largely, but not exclusively, serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries and the application must demonstrate project readiness, such as through property lease, site control, or a business plan.  

Since 2021, BHCIP has awarded $2.2 billion to strengthen California’s behavioral health continuum. CHA fact sheets show the BHCIP grants already awarded by county. 

For any questions, contact Kirsten Barlow, vice president, policy, at kbarlow@calhospital.org.