California plans to invest $1.18 billion in behavioral health facilities, raising the state’s commitment to its broader initiative of increasing access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment to nearly $4.2 billion.
The additional investment will fund 66 projects across 130 behavioral health facilities and create more residential and crisis treatment centers, according to a March 11 news release from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.
California voters approved a $6.4 billion bond in 2024 for the behavioral health continuum infrastructure program, which adds residential treatment beds and outpatient treatment slots, and the Homekey+ program, which funds supportive housing.
The $4.17 billion allocated to the behavioral health program has created 6,919 residential/inpatient beds and 27,561 outpatient treatment slots for behavioral healthcare, the release said.
While California is increasing funds for mental health and substance use disorder treatment facilities, the state has proposed nurse-to-patient staffing ratios at psychiatric hospitals. The proposed regulation, slated to take effect June 1, would require psychiatric hospitals to staff one licensed nurse for every six adult patients and one nurse for every five pediatric patients.
Hospital leaders in the state told Becker’s they support the idea but are worried the current regulation proposal would cause facility and unit closures. Read more here.
