News

Mental Health Systems takes a proactive approach in communicating to the community about mental health issues, services and successes. Follow along with us as we promote healthy community practices through print, broadcast and social media. Please let us know if you see an item that would be of interest to others in the MHS community. Submit it here.

Scott Suckow to National Advisory Board

The Patient Advocacy Leaders Summit (PALS) has named healthcare advocate Scott Suckow to its National Advisory Board. In this role, he will work with other influential patient advocacy leaders to guide PALS in improving the knowledge and effectiveness of the advocacy community at the local, state, regional, national and global levels.

Full Behavioral Health Parity for California

The most important news this month is that full behavioral health parity has been put into the California Health Benefit Exchange. This means that all four million Californians who will be covered by MediCal and the low-income exchange will receive full mental health and substance use disorder services. This was pushed by the California Coalition for Whole Health, of which MHS is a member.

California Budget Changes Medicaid Program

To help close a $15.7 billion deficit, California’s 2013 fiscal year budget will make several changes to Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. The state will cut over $1 billion from the program by reducing services, lowering provider reimbursement rates, and moving $1.4 million “dual eligibles” into managed care. The budget also requires Medi-Cal co-pays for select services and medications.

Local Drug Court Serves as National Model

Will Host National Training Program sponsored by the Bureau of Justice (BJA) in collaboration with the National Drug Court Institute (NDCI)

The San Diego Central County Drug Court is set to host a national training program for Drug Court teams from around the country on August 2, 2012. The San Diego Central County Drug Court serves as a national Mentor Court as part of a program sponsored by the National Drug Court Institute in conjunction with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice.

MHS Summer Blood Drive

(July 27, 2012--San Diego, CA) – Join MHS and help the community by making your donation at our Summer Blood Drive. New and returning donors can stop by Mental Health Systems to roll up their sleeves and donate. The blood drive will be held in the Mental Health Systems parking lot on August 16, 2012, from 9am-2:30pm, in Kearny Mesa at 9465 Farnham Street, San Diego.