Important legislation is emerging that would significantly improve care for the most severely mentally ill people in California.
Proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, the package of bills warrants serious consideration by Gov. Jerry Brown, even though the measures would add to state costs, at least in the short run.
Among his proposals, Steinberg is calling for construction or leasing of facilities that would provide 2,000 beds controlled by counties for individuals who are in the midst of crisis.
Steinberg also proposes to add 200 mental health workers who would focus on people with serious issues, and 25 mobile crisis teams deployed across the state, plus 3,500 more treatment slots for felons with serious mental illness upon their release from prison.
Read more.
Health Access Presents Compromise Proposal on Medi-Cal Expansion
Hoping to end a stalemate in California's debate over how to expand Medi-Cal, Health Access California has come up with a compromise proposal. Part of the proposal involves maintaining the Low Income Health Program (LIHP), which is due to expire in 2014.
Maximizing Federal Reimbursement for Parolee Mental Health Care (LAO Report)
Historically, the state has spent tens of millions of dollars annually in General Fund for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide mental health treatment services to mentally ill parolees and to assist inmates with applying for benefits (such as Medi-Cal) prior to release from prison. Our analysis indicates that federal Medicaid reimbursements could be attained for some of the costs of these existing services. Moreover, the amount of federal reimbursements could increase significantly under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) if the Legislature chooses to expand Medi-Cal to provide health coverage to most low-income individuals, as authorized by ACA
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State Controller: Revenue Projections Exceeded by 6.1%
State Controller John Chiang today released his monthly report covering California's cash balance, receipts and disbursements in April 2013.Through the first 10 months of the fiscal year, total revenues exceeded the Governor's January projections by $4.6 billion (+6.1 percent). For the first time in nearly six years, California closed out a month without borrowing from internal state funds to pay our bills.
Governor Brown Will Release May Budget Revisions on Tuesday, May 14 at 10:00 AM
No new additional budget reductions are expected, but advocates and policymakers are anxiously waiting to see if the Governor will be proposing any restoration of funding to programs and services, especially those in health and human services, beyond what he proposed in January.
HHS Network of California '13 Budget Conference Call Briefing.
The HHS Network of California invites you to attend a Conference Call Briefing featuring Jean Ross of the California Budget Project on FRIDAY, May 21st at 10:00 a.m.
The briefing will include an in-depth discussion of the "California Forward" and other current budget reform proposals - with a special focus on their potential impact on California's health and human services infrastructure.
WHAT: Budget Reform/California Forward Briefing
WHO: Jean Ross, California Budget Project
WHEN: FRIDAY, May 21 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
DIAL-IN: 1-866-516-5393
PASS-CODE: 78010970#
Click for more information.
California State Senate Select Committee of Mental Health Meeting: Reducing California's Prison Population & Recidivism Rate
Friday, May 31st, 11:30 a.m.-1:30p.m.
White Memorial Medical Center, Cafeteria Conference Room
1720 East Cesar E Chavez Avenue, Los Angeles
Join Senators Jim Beall and Kevin de L�on for an informational hearing of the Senate Select Committee on Mental Health in Los Angeles. The committee will discuss a plan of action to reduce California's prison population and recidivism rate.
Speakers will examine how increasing parolees' and at-risk populations' access to mental health and substance use treatment will result in lower incarceration rates and save taxpayers millions of dollars.Among those scheduled to testify are:
- Dr. Richard Rawson, Associate Director of UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs
- Sharon Aungst & Kathy Jett of Partnership for Community Excellence
- Ross Peterson of Telecare Corporation
RSVP online, or call Sunshine Borelli at 408-558-1295 for more information.
Save the Date: MHSOAC Regional Meeting June 6
The next Community Forum for the MHSOAC Community Forum will be held Thursday, June 6 at 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM in the Capitola Area. Click for agenda items and information.
--Bettie Reinhardt, MPH
Legislative and Public Policy Consultant
[email protected]
--David Czarnecki
Advocacy Coordinator
[email protected]