Behavioral Health

Issues

Sub-Issues

About Behavioral Health

An estimated 7.5 million people in California experience a mental health disorder in any given year, but only one-third of adults who experience mental illness are getting treatment. The caregivers at hospitals know the obstacles people with behavioral health conditions face and the challenges in getting them the treatment they need.

While hospitals embrace the essential role they play in addressing this crisis, more needs to be done. Investments are needed to tackle a crisis made even worse by COVID-19. California must prioritize behavioral health investments in prevention, early assessment, identification of needs, and aggressive treatment for all, regardless of health coverage or ZIP code.

In addition, solutions like payment reform, resource allocation, more outpatient and community-based services, a bolstered behavioral health workforce, and a statewide set of standardized core services will help Californians with behavioral health conditions access the care they deserve.

State Budget Takes a Wide Variety of Health Care-Related Actions 

In June 2022, the Legislature and governor approved a $308 billion budget for the state fiscal year spanning from July 2022 through June 2023. In late August, the Legislature passed and the governor is expected to approve revisions to the 2022-23 Budget Act, which generally redirect, build upon, or provide statutory parameters around actions previously […]

CalBridge Program Accepting Applications on An Ongoing Basis

In July, the CalBridge Behavioral Health Navigator Program announced the latest list of over 80 California hospitals to receive over $9 million in grants. The grants support emergency departments (EDs) becoming primary access points for the treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.  

Hospitals Are Resilient, Not Invincible

There’s a widely held misconception about California’s hospitals that their proven resilience in the face of challenges over decades upon decades means they can withstand anything thrown their way. 

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Launches

Last week, the Federal Communications Commission adopted rules that established 988 as the nationwide three-digit phone number to connect Americans in crisis with suicide prevention and mental health crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  

Budget Deal Brings Big Changes for Health Care

Earlier this week, California’s Senate and Assembly, along with Gov. Gavin Newsom, finalized several important details of this year’s budget, a $300 billion spending package that includes several far-reaching features that will affect both health care delivery and hospital operations. While legislation is far from complete and it is expected that more issues will arise […]