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
HHS Eases Certain Requirements for Prescribing Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
On April 28, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released new practice guidelines for administering buprenorphine.
CHA Webinar Will Help ED Staff Manage Youth in Behavioral Health Crisis
Emergency department (ED) staff are seeing an increase in youth experiencing a behavioral health crisis, including suicide, and in the moment it can be difficult to know what resources are available and where to direct families. To provide hospital staff with resources that can support patients and family members, and ease the already stressful ED environment, CHA will host a webinar on April 28 from 11 a.m. to noon (PT).
CHA Issues Summary of FFY 2022 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility PPS Proposed Rule
CHA has issued a detailed, members-only summary, prepared by Health Policy Alternatives, Inc., of the federal fiscal year 2022 inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system proposed rule recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Comments are due to CMS by 2 p.m. (PT) on June 7.
CMS Issues FY 2022 Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its proposed rule updating the inpatient psychiatric facility (IPF) prospective payment system (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2022. Comments on the proposed rule are due by 2 p.m. (PT) on June 7.
Mental Health Law Manual
AHA Poster Series Designed to Combat Behavioral Health Stigma
The American Hospital Association (AHA) has launched a People Matter, Words Matter downloadable poster series to help combat behavioral health stigma in health care settings. The poster series is designed to encourage providers to adopt respectful, patient-centered language. The first poster encourages the use of people-first language, which primarily acknowledges the person rather than the illness or disability. The […]
Turning the Tide on Mental Illness & Substance Use Disorders
California’s county-by-county system of behavioral health care needs reform to include a standardized set of core services. The attached issue brief outlines steps to achieving a behavioral health care system that puts patients first.
California’s Behavioral Health Crisis
Millions of Californians aren’t getting the care they need for mental health or substance use disorders.
It’s Time for California to Turn the Tide on Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders
CHA has developed the attached key messaging document to share the principles that guide our strategy related to behavioral health.
New Study Analyzes Behavioral Health Care Utilization During COVID-19 Pandemic
An analysis of insurance claims from the same periods in 2019 and 2020 found that mental health and substance use disorder inpatient admissions dropped through April 2020 — similar to decreases seen in physical health care services. However, subsequent behavioral health inpatient admissions increased through August 2020 at a much higher rate than medical services, with admission rates exceeding 2019 levels in […]