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. 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.
About Behavioral Health
EDs May See Influx of Prescription Refill Requests Due to Closures of Pain Management Clinics
As a result of the closure of 29 Lags Medical Centers, which operate high-volume pain management clinics in California, emergency departments in 16 counties may see high numbers of patients needing prescription refills.
Our Health California Looks at the State’s Dizzying Road to Mental Health Care
California’s county-by-county approach to behavioral health care creates a system that leaves many people without the crisis behavioral health care they need. These disparities are a result of a fragmented payment system and services that are not coordinated statewide, leading to a confusing behavioral health care system throughout California.
The Dizzying Road to Mental Health Care
In California, 1.4 million people live with a serious mental illness, while millions more struggle with day-to-day mental health challenges. However, most don’t get the care and treatment they need.
HHS Announces Additional Block Grants to Address Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Crisis
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is distributing $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funding. The Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG) program and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG) program will disperse $1.5 billion each to states and territories.
Pediatric Patients with Mental Health Conditions in EDs During Pandemic More Likely to Require Admission
New research from JAMA has found that pediatric emergency department patients with mental health conditions have been more likely to require admission and have had longer admissions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ACEs Aware Initiative Launches State of CAre Provider Engagement Campaign
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and Office of the California Surgeon General have launched the “State of CAre” health care provider engagement campaign to expand the reach and impact of the ACEs Aware initiative. The campaign slogan is, “Our State of CAre is ACEs Aware.”
Governor Releases Revised State Budget
On May 14, Gov. Newsom presented the Legislature with revisions to the budget he proposed in January, the process referred to as the May Revise. Throughout the week leading up to the release of the revision, the governor had been presenting various proposals as part of his “California Roars Back” plan, touted as a recovery package tackling the […]
CHFFA Accepting Applications for Children and Youth Mental Wellness Grant Program
Applications are now being accepted for the California Health Facilities Financing Authority (CHFFA) third funding round for the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Grant Program for Children and Youth.
CalHOPE Offers Free Behavioral Health Help
Due to events this past year, many adults and children have experienced some level of collective trauma as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. For those who need behavioral health care, CalHOPE, a multi-media campaign launched in June 2020, connects people impacted by COVID-19 to free outreach, crisis counseling, and support services.
CHA Webinar Will Detail 2022 Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Proposed Rule Updates
On May 21 from 11 a.m. to noon (PT), CHA will host a complimentary, members-only webinar to detail the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule updating the inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system for fiscal year 2022.