Behavioral Health

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 due to a lack of behavioral health care workers. Despite major improvements in health care coverage over the past decade, substantial discrepancies persist in available behavioral health care among commercial health plans and public programs. For this reason, many people experiencing mental health crises frequently turn to hospital emergency departments for treatment, and this number is increasing. From 2011 to 2020, there was a 68% increase. Caregivers at hospitals know the obstacles people with behavioral health conditions face and the challenges in getting them treatment and embrace the essential role they play in helping those in crisis. Strategies must mirror those in primary health care where the goal is prevention and early intervention, along with offering a continuum of services that will help Californians with behavioral health needs avoid acute care, hospitalization, incarceration, conservatorships, and institutionalization.  

CHA Issues Draft Comments on FFY 2024 IRF, SNF, and IPF PPS Proposed Rules

CHA has issued members-only draft comments on the federal fiscal year 2024 inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) prospective payment system (PPS), skilled-nursing facility (SNF) PPS, and inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) PPS proposed rules. CHA encourages members to use the drafts as a template to submit their own comment letters.  

2023 Behavioral Health Care Symposium

Did you see we will be in Sacramento this year? Bringing California’s hospital leaders, policy makers, and experts on behavioral health together, the symposium will dive into the public policies, politics, and financial issues shaping behavioral health care in our state.   Please save this date on your department calendar and in your personal calendar. Share […]

CHA Issues Summaries of FFY 2024 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities and Skilled-Nursing Facilities Prospective Payment System Proposed Rules

CHA has issued members-only summaries, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the federal fiscal year 2024 inpatient psychiatric hospital facilities (IPF) and skilled-nursing facilities (SNF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rules. Comments on both rules are due to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) by June 5.