About Behavioral Health
California has a behavioral health care crisis, as more Californians need care, and there are not enough providers to deliver that care. As a last resort, those facing a mental health crisis turn to hospital emergency departments. The number of people going to an emergency department for mental health needs jumped 68% from 2010 to 2020; for children 12 to 17 that number climbed 31%. Creating a behavioral health care system means making access easier and more equitable, while ensuring patients receive care in the most appropriate setting.
Summary: FFY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Medicare Payment Proposed Rule
What’s happening: A summary of the inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule is available.
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due by May 28.
ED Resource Relief – Implementing the CARE Act
This year, every county in California will begin operating a new option for civil courts to be involved in the treatment of people with a serious mental illness: The CARE Act. Hospitals often treat individuals with schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders who are in crisis and are not stabilized in treatment – people who seem to […]
CMS Issues FFY 2025 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility PPS Proposed Rule
What’s happening: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule.
What else to know: Comments are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on May 28.
Passage of Proposition 1 Will Change California’s Behavioral Health Spending Priorities
What’s happening: The passage of Proposition 1 in March renamed a major part of California’s mental health laws and changed state and county spending priorities that have been in place for 20 years. What used to be the “Mental Health Services Act” is now renamed the “Behavioral Health Services Act.”
What else to know: CHA will provide members with additional details over the coming months, including advice on ensuring hospitals’ voices are heard in county-level decisions about funding.
CHA Supports Bill to Train More Doctors to Address Opioid and Substance Use Epidemic
What’s happening: The Substance Use Disorder Workforce Act (H.R. 7050) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What else to know: CHA is part of a coalition supporting this legislation.
Major Revamp Ahead for California’s Mental Health System Following Passage of Proposition 1
What’s happening: The ballot measure will restructure the state’s mental health system, directing billions of dollars to build mental health treatment facilities and housing for homeless individuals. What else to know: CHA strongly supported the measure which voters approved by a razor slim margin, 50.2% to 49.8%. The final vote count came on March 20. […]
President Biden Releases FY 2025 Budget Request
What’s happening: President Biden submitted his fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget request to Congress.
What else to know: The budget is a blueprint of the administration’s priorities and is not legislation.
House Passes First Package to Fund Federal Government, Includes Health Provisions
What’s happening: The U.S. House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which will fund a portion of the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. The package includes a group of CHA-supported health care provisions important to hospitals.
What else to know: Congress has until March 22 to pass a second package to fund the rest of the federal government, including the Department of Health and Human Services.
CHA Fact Sheets Show New Behavioral Health Facilities Being Built
What’s happening: To help CHA members learn about new behavioral health facilities being constructed in communities around the state, CHA has created an online document that displays the funds awarded to build various types of facilities by county.
What else to know: Close to $2 billion in state funds have been distributed throughout California during the past two years to build new behavioral health treatment locations that will serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries.
Medicare Coverage for Behavioral Health Expanded
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) announced that Medicare will cover visits with mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and marriage and family therapists, effective since Jan. 1.
What else to know: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct both routine and focused program audits of Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations in 2024 to assess compliance with new requirements.