About Behavioral Health
Many Californians can’t get the behavioral health care they need due to a shortage of resources. In fact, 92% of hospitals that provide psychiatric inpatient care report they are unable to admit new patients because discharging current patients to step-down care is so difficult. This congestion means patients are in more restrictive settings than they need, which leads to emergency department overcrowding. To address California’s behavioral health crisis, strategies must mirror those in primary care — where the goal is to prevent illness and provide the right care in the right setting.
Psychiatric Hospital Staffing Ratios Closing Beds Across CA, CHA News Release Warns
What’s happening: On Tuesday, CHA issued a news release describing how new staffing ratios for acute care psychiatric hospitals are forcing bed closures and driving youth and adults in mental health crisis into overcrowded emergency departments.
New Staffing Ratios Force Bed Closures and Drive Youth and Adults in Mental Health Crisis into Overcrowded Emergency Departments
SACRAMENTO (June 9, 2026) — Despite hospitals having hired more than 1,000 nurses to comply with new state staffing ratios at acute care psychiatric hospitals, an unworkable June 1 deadline has already resulted in fewer mental health services for Californians.
Ahead of June 1 Deadline for Psych Staffing Ratios, CDPH Accepting Program Flex Requests
What’s happening: As the June 1 deadline for free-standing acute psychiatric hospitals staffing ratios approaches, CHA is continuing conversations and advocacy with the California Health and Human Services Agency and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to urge adjustments to the department’s draft regulations.
CHA Sounds Alarm on Psych Hospital Staffing Regulations
What’s happening: In recent comments to California’s Health and Human Services Agency, CHA urges the state to mitigate the incredible impact of the impending staff ratio regulations for California’s psychiatric hospitals, the patients they serve, and already overcrowded emergency departments.
Delay in Staffing Policy Prevents Psychiatric Care Crisis
Earlier this week, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced it would delay adopting emergency regulations for acute psychiatric hospital staffing until June 1, rather than its original deadline of Jan. 31.
Psychiatric Staffing Ratio Proposal Would Immediately Upend Care
A dangerous and detrimental staffing ratio mandate for freestanding psychiatric hospitals that would make it harder for Californians to get treatment for mental health disorders is careening toward approval.
Proposed Staffing Regulations Will Immediately Reduce Psychiatric Hospital Beds, Upending Behavioral Health Care in California
In a proposal that is as baffling as it is irresponsible, new regulations from the California Department of Public Health will prevent Californians from getting the mental health care they desperately need.
Resources Available to Support New Mandatory Psychiatric Inpatient Experience Reporting
What’s happening: To support hospitals in reporting Psychiatric Inpatient Experience (PIX) Survey data — mandatory as of Jan. 1 — the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a host of new resources including data collection templates, a data dictionary, and the Spanish version of the survey.
Immediate Compliance with New Acute Psychiatric Hospital Staff Ratios Would Close Patient Beds, CHA Argues
What’s happening: Last week, CHA submitted a letter to the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Center for Health Care Quality to recommend several changes to the draft regulations on acute psychiatric hospital staffing, which are proposed to take effect on Jan. 31.
CA Medical Board Reminds Providers of Three-Day Rule for Narcotic Prescriptions
What’s happening: The Medical Board of California has distributed its annual notice reminding prescribers that, under federal law, certain authorized practitioners may dispense a three-day supply of Schedule II medications in emergency situations in order to initiate maintenance or detoxification treatment.