Behavioral Health - California Health Care Foundation

Behavioral Health
The burden of untreated behavioral health conditions — encompassing mental health and substance use disorders — is both a major public health problem and a delivery system challenge. CHCF works to improve systems of behavioral health care and to focus on integrating mental health, substance use, and physical health services to achieve the best outcomes for Californians with low incomes.

2022 Edition — Quality of Care: Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health

This set of quality measures focuses on behavioral health, including mental health and substance use.

2022 Edition — Mental Health in California

Behavioral Health

Using the most recent data available, this Almanac provides an overview of mental health statewide: disease prevalence, suicide rates, supply and use of treatment providers, and mental health in the criminal justice system.

Innovations in Telehealth in Behavioral Health During COVID-19

National Council for Mental Wellbeing

Behavioral Health, Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a swift pivot to telehealth for the delivery of behavioral health services. What works? What isn’t working? And what barriers to quality care remain? This report from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing was developed specifically for mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers.

A Qualitative Study of Expanded Methadone Take-Home Access in Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

Behavioral Health

In March 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, federal guidance permitted greater access to methadone "take-home doses" for people in treatment for opioid use disorder. This paper reviews the treatment experiences of patients and providers at an opioid treatment program in San Francisco.

New Technology Is Transforming Care in California’s Safety Net

Silvina Martinez

Telehealth, Behavioral Health, Health Equity

Federally Qualified Health Centers in California overcame language barriers, uneven digital access, and workflow changes to increase telehealth visits for primary care from 2% of visits to 61% during the pandemic.

Improving Behavioral Health Systems Through Operational Integration: Efforts in San Mateo County

Behavioral Health

In San Mateo County, the Medi-Cal managed care plan and the behavioral health plan are working together to streamline operational functions to better manage resources and improve member care.

Treating Stimulant Use Disorder: CalAIM’s Contingency Management Pilot

Héctor Hernández-Delgado

Behavioral Health

Contingency management is an effective treatment for people trying to reduce or stop their use of methamphetamine, cocaine, and other stimulants. California's Department of Health Care Services will soon launch a pilot program offering contingency management to Medi-Cal enrollees in several counties statewide.

Learning from COVID-19: How Pandemic-Era Policies for Methadone Prescribing Could Improve Opioid Treatment

Leslie Suen, Oanh Nguyen, Kelly Knight

Behavioral Health

Emergency regulations instituted as COVID-19 reached the US allowed patients who may not otherwise have qualified for methadone take-home doses to receive them.

Patience, Commitment Help Journalists Capture Harsh Realities of Fentanyl Addiction

Behavioral Health

A conversation with San Francisco Chronicle reporter Trisha Thadani and photojournalist Stephen Lam about how they approached a project that dug deep below the surface of the city's overdose crisis.

Cultivating Outcomes Through Equity in Behavioral Telehealth

Behavioral Health, Telehealth, Health Equity

In this 18-month initiative, participants are working to improve their behavioral telehealth practices so that patients will have equitable access to high-quality services that promote resilience and emotional well-being.

Biden Lays Out His Health Policy Agenda

Alyssa Llamas, Dawn Joyce

Behavioral Health, Health Care Costs

Some of his key items are already underway via administrative actions, while others require legislative action in Congress.

How California Can Build on CalAIM to Better Integrate Physical and Behavioral Health Care

Behavioral Health

This analysis reviews CalAIM behavioral health initiatives, looks at programs from other states, and finds additional opportunities for California to advance integration in Medi-Cal.

Expanding Substance Use Care: Health Plan Teams Up with Seven California Counties

Behavioral Health

In this regional Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System program, the counties provide financial resources, and Partnership HealthPlan of California administers the program.

Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Response Services in Medi-Cal

Behavioral Health, Medi-Cal

Too often, the first response to people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis is law enforcement. Communities across California are working to retool their approach to people undergoing behavioral health crises by developing mobile crisis response services. The state's Medi-Cal program is expected to add these services as a new benefit as soon as January 2023.

Mobile Crisis Teams: A State Planning Guide for Medicaid-Financed Crisis Response Services

Behavioral Health

This paper provides a review of the requirements of the American Rescue Plan Act as it pertains to community-based mobile crisis intervention services. It also highlights state considerations that will support a more robust crisis continuum, including 988 planning.