Latest California Healthline Stories
Evaluation Trumps Incarceration in L.A. Police Dept. Mental Health Efforts
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Mental Evaluation Unit is winning rave reviews locally, in other states and from a few foreign countries, as well. Stakeholders say the program could be even better with more resources.
Medi-Cal Mental Health Waiver Approved
Integration of physical and mental health in the Medi-Cal program got a boost from federal approval of a five-year extension of the specialty mental health services waiver.
Analyst’s Office Cites ‘Shortcomings’ in Mental Health Hospitals’ Administration
Poor budgeting methods, administrative inefficiencies and unclear staffing needs all combine for a low score for the California Department of State Hospitals, according to a new report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
UCLA Report Shows How Some Clinics Integrate Mental Health Into Primary Care
Integrating mental health into the primary care setting can be done in a relatively straightforward way, according to UCLA researchers who studied five California clinics.
Little Hoover Commission Issues Report on State’s Mental Health Services
California health officials need to focus on better monitoring and counties need to have standards to measure performance of the Mental Health Services Act, according to a new report from the Little Hoover Commission.
Draft Plan Emerges To Reduce Disparities in Mental Health Care
After four years of planning, the state’s Department of Public Health has released its strategic plan to address mental health care disparities experienced by Californians of various races, ethnicities and sexual orientations.
New Los Angeles Program Working To Divert Mentally Ill, Homeless From Jail
Replicating a model already delivering impressive results in other metropolitan areas, Los Angeles County has implemented an innovative, cost-cutting jail diversion and alternate sentencing program for the chronically homeless and seriously mentally ill.
UCLA Plans Behavioral Health Center
A new research center in Los Angeles plans to focus on bringing mental health research work to real-life programs and public policy — the urban version of a similar new facility at UC-Davis.
Data, Oversight Cited as Central Needs To Improve State’s Mental Health Services
Ten years after California voters passed Proposition 63 and created the Mental Health Services Act, the Little Hoover Commission is looking at how well that act is working and what still needs to be done to make it better.
How Jail Survey Affects Health Care
The expansion of the Medi-Cal program will be keenly felt by Californians in county jails or on probation, many of whom have not had access to coverage before. One researcher said the transitional time for inmates is a perfect opportunity to gain coverage.