California’s behavioral health system generates vast amounts of data on services, costs, quality, access, and outcomes. However, a complex regulatory and funding environment, alongside diverse local needs and practices, has resulted in a data collection, measurement, and reporting landscape that is fragmented and inefficient. As California embarks on a significant overhaul of its behavioral health service delivery system, a parallel opportunity emerges to revolutionize data collection and utilization.

California’s Behavioral Health Data Landscape, current as of October 2024, provides a comprehensive overview of the following:

1. The current state of behavioral health data collection in California
2. Existing reporting structures and requirements
3. California’s approach to measuring behavioral health quality, outcomes, and equity
4. Future directions for behavioral health measurement and reporting

The report, available for download below, also serves as a reference guide to public behavioral health funding programs and their current data requirements and structures.

This analysis aims to inform policymakers, providers, and advocates as they work to enhance data-driven decisionmaking and improve behavioral health services for all Californians, with a particular focus on Medi-Cal enrollees.

By streamlining data collection and establishing consensus around key metrics, California can better track progress, identify disparities, and drive improvements in its behavioral health system, ultimately leading to better care and outcomes for millions of residents.