Behavioral Health

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.

CHA Advocacy Materials on Key Issues Available  

What’s happening: CHA has released advocacy materials — infographics, key messages, and issue briefs — for a suite of priority issues for 2024.  

What else to know: Infographics offer a quick view for people in a hurry (e.g., lawmakers) while issue briefs provide a deeper dive for those who want more information (e.g., staffers). Both are ideal leave-behinds. Key messages are for use in developing talking points or presentations, or for general information.   

CHA Analysis Reveals How Insurer Practices Impede Patient Care

What’s happening: CHA developed a detailed analysis of how insurance company practices negatively affect patients, which is a key proof point supporting a comprehensive strategy to hold insurers accountable for patient care in California. 
 
What else to know: One of CHA’s priorities this year is to create greater accountability (network adequacy, prior authorization, medical necessity, payment practices, and parity) for insurers operating in California.  

2024 Behavioral Health Care Symposium

Join us at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on December 10-11 for two days of relevant topics on behavioral health care in California from speakers you want to hear. If you thought the 2023 Symposium in Sacramento was good – just wait til this one. And this year you get to enjoy the great Pacific Ocean. Long Beach is a vacation destination so put this date on both your work and play calendars!

2023 Behavioral Health Care Symposium

Did you see the Symposium is in Sacramento this year? Bringing California’s hospital leaders, policymakers, 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.   Share the news with your colleagues. This is big.  Register today!

Important Legal Changes to Psychiatric Holds in 2023

This webinar will provide a review of new state laws affecting all hospitals that treat patients on an involuntary psychiatric hold including hospital emergency departments and inpatient psychiatric services. It will describe the intersection of hospital EMTALA requirements and the involuntary psychiatric hold process. Audience:Health Care Executives, Case Managers, Social Workers, Risk Managers, Emergency Department […]