Behavioral Health

About Behavioral Health

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. Investments are needed to tackle a crisis made even worse by COVID-19. California must prioritize behavioral health investments in prevention, early assessment, identification of needs, and aggressive treatment for all, regardless of health coverage or ZIP code.

In addition, 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.


This point-in-time analysis was conducted in 2017-2018 to gain a deeper understanding of the behavioral health challenges faced by San Diego patients. Issues examined included pre-acute, acute, and post-acute services and the impact of social determinants of health on access and outcomes. Ultimately, the findings are intended to support further research efforts and to promote collaboration between San Diego County Behavioral Health Services and other community organizations providing behavioral health services in San Diego.

HASDIC 2018 Behavioral Health Analysis

5 Things To Know: Fentanyl Screening, Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), CHA Forum, State of Emergency, Behavioral Health

FENTANYL SCREENING: The California Department of Public Health has issued an All Facilities Letter (AFL) 22-25 on fentanyl screening. The AFL notifies general acute care hospitals (GACH) of the passage of Senate Bill 864 (Chapter 169, Statutes of 2022) and its requirement that a GACH that is conducting a diagnostic urine drug screening must also include testing for fentanyl, until Jan. 1, 2028. For questions about this AFL, hospitals should contact their respective district office.

5 Things To Know: Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), Nursing Grants, Report on State Legislation, Medi-Cal RX Expansion, AHA Suicide Prevention Resources

COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT (CHNA): Please join HASD&IC and CHNA-participating hospitals, health systems, and health districts for a community stakeholder briefing  from 10 to 11:30 a.m. (PT) Nov. 29. The briefing will include a presentation on the 2022 CHNA as well as a discussion about potential future research and the next steps to address the identified community needs. Please forward this information to anyone in your network who might be interested in attending. The 2022 CHNA report is available on the HASD&IC website. After reviewing the report, please consider sharing your feedback through our survey.

5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training, Retention Payment Program, Behavioral Health Funding Opportunities, Skilled-Nursing Facilities, Community College Instructors Needed

MEDI-CAL FRAUD PREVENTION TRAINING: The Department of Health Care Services Investigations Division will join HASD&IC for a webinar on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to noon (PT) to provide Medi-Cal Fraud Prevention Training. The main objective of this training is to help preserve professional ethics and integrity to ensure that Medi-Cal benefits and other public program benefits are provided only to eligible persons. Attendees will hear potential fraud indicators and appropriate actions to take if they do encounter a suspicious situation. This training opportunity is highly encouraged for any hospital or vendor staff who assist patients with their Medi-Cal application and is a great opportunity to ask any questions about Medi-Cal fraud concerns. Please pass along the invitation to any staff and colleagues who would be interested in attending.

5 Things To Know: Medi-Cal Managed Care Contract Appeals, HQI Annual Conference, Behavioral Health, New Homeless Shelter, and Medical Device Vulnerability

MEDI-CAL MANAGED CARE CONTRACT APPEALS: Aetna Better Health of California, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan, Community Health Group, and Centene Corporation have all appealed the Department of Health Care Services’ notice of intent to award Medi-Cal Managed Care contracts in San Diego County. Health Net — owned by Centene — was awarded contracts in a number of counties, it is protesting its absence from Los Angeles County. In its appeal, Health Net contends that its historical presence and work providing Medi-Cal in the region merits its continued provision of managed care in the county.

2022 CHNA Highlights Top Community Needs

Yesterday, some of you may have received an email with an advance copy of the 2022 HASD&IC Community Health Needs Assessment. While it’s not available publicly yet, wanted to share a few thoughts ahead of its upcoming release.

5 Things To Know: Behavioral Health Hub, GED Accreditation, ICYMI – Medical Baseline Customers, MonkeyPox, and Medi-Cal Enrollment

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH HUB: Last week, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a plan for a less-expensive behavioral health facility at Alvarado Hospital Medical Center. When it opens in late 2023, the Central Regional Behavioral Health Hub will feature 44 new acute inpatient beds and a crisis stabilization unit. The county is also looking at other opportunities to expand other continuum capacities at sites such as the Rosecrans and Parcel/Third Avenue psychiatric facilities. Under the plan, Alvarado Hospital is the license holder/operator; UCSD will provide medical direction, clinical oversight, and clinical training capacity; and the county will be the capital investor, staffer, and payer. Plans call for investing capital in the project with expectations that future capacity will increase to 60 beds total.

The discussion will be continued at future Board of Supervisors meetings. On Sept. 27, Luke Bergmann, PhD, behavioral health services director for San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, will present an analysis of the urgent needs of different service areas (post-acute and long-term care). On Oct. 11, Dr. Bergmann will present a report on concrete action to expand capacity in identified areas.  

Two Important Occasions to Recognize in September

The month of September marks two important occasions meant to recognize important needs in our community.

The first — Hunger Awareness Month/Hunger Action Month — is designed to draw attention to the fact that food insecurity is greater than ever. Throughout the country, millions of Americans are being forced to make budgeting decisions while facing grocery prices that have risen more than 13% in the last 12 months, the largest increase since 1979.

5 Things To Know: Workforce, Health Equity Webinars, Behavioral Health, Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs

WORKFORCE: The San Diego Workforce Partnership recently launched the Healthcare Administration Pathways Program. This program will put participants with no health care experience (but preferable experience in hospitality or retail) through the UC San Diego (UCSD) Division of Extended Studies Revenue Cycle and Management Intensive Course at no cost to them. The partnership is working with UCSD, Rady’s Children’s Hospital, and Scripps Health to fill patient access representative I positions in hopes of diversifying the pipeline of workers. Participants who complete the course will also be eligible to sit for the certified revenue cycle specialist exam, which the workforce partnership will also fund. The San Diego Workforce Partnership is looking to expand partnerships with more hospitals in the region for this program. 

What ‘Stranger Things’ Shows Us About Relationships

If your house is anything like mine, lately you’ve probably been hearing a lot about Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things.” You may even be a fan of it yourself. You’re probably also well aware that the show centers on a number of mysteries and supernatural events occurring around the fictitious town of Hawkins, Indiana.  

5 Things To Know: CalAIM Incentive Payment Plan, Retention Payment Program, Monkeypox Resources

CALAIM INCENTIVE PAYMENT PLAN PROGRAM UPDATE: The California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Incentive Payment Program is intended to support the implementation and expansion of enhanced care management and community supports by incentivizing managed care plans (MCPs) to drive MCP delivery system investment in provider capacity and delivery system infrastructure. It is also intended to bridge current silos across physical and behavioral health care service delivery; reduce health disparities and promote health equity; achieve improvements in quality performance; and encourage take-up of community supports. More information on the MCP Incentive Payment Plan Program Year 1 Gap Filling Plan is available by county (San Diego and Imperial included) on the Department of Health Care Services website. Additional general information on the Incentive Payment Program can be found on the CalAIM Roundtables by Region web pages for San Diego and Imperial counties.