As California prepares for the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, counties across the State are embarking on the journey to integrate primary care, mental health, and substance use treatment. 

California’s funding for health, mental health, and substance use disorder treatment has evolved into a complex mix of funding streams and rule sets over the last several decades.  Compounding our funding challenges, as Medi-Cal expansion occurs between 2014 and 2019, we have seen estimates that 400,000 Medi-Cal enrollees with substance dependence or abuse NOT currently receiving care will have access to a drug and alcohol treatment benefit.  It really is critical to think through all of the ways integration will change how we deliver services.

The May 2013 Fiscal Leadership Institute program explored these issues and as always, we took a longer-term view toward building the competencies and skills that will strengthen behavioral health financing in the future.