Project Abstract: The California COVID-19 Behavioral Health Response Project will deliver
treatment services to individuals affected by the COVID-19 public health emergency in Los
Angeles and Santa Clara Counties with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental health
disorders, youth and patients with serious emotional disturbances, and health care professionals
with mental health disorders less severe than serious mental illness (SMI).
As of April 7, 2020, Los Angeles had 6,910 confirmed cases and 169 deaths and Santa Clara had
1,285 confirmed cases and 43 deaths. These counties have also been significantly impacted by
mental health and SUD. In 2018, Los Angeles had 497 opioid overdose deaths, 1,655 ED visits
due to any opioid overdose, and 742 hospitalizations due to any opioid overdose. In 2018, Santa
Clara had 60 opioid overdose deaths, 141 ED visits due to any opioid overdose, and 89
hospitalizations due to any opioid overdose. Moreover, about 1 in 5 adults experience mental
illness and 1 in 25 experience SMI. These counties have a high burden of mental health and
SUD treatment needs and a large percentage of the health care workforce. It is crucial to provide
this funding to support behavioral health providers in these counties over the coming months.
Without intervention, the disruption presented by COVID-19 will pose risks to treatment for
individuals with SUD and mental health disorders.
The California Department of Health Care Services will release a Request for Application on
April 13, 2020, to solicit mental health and SUD treatment providers to treat up to 500 uninsured
and under-insured individuals annually and through the life of the project, who have been
impacted by COVID-19 in Los Angeles and Santa Clara Counties. California will undertake a
dual approach by allocating $600,000 to mental health disorder treatment and $1.4 million to
SUD treatment. Services will commence on or before July 31, 2020 and be completed on or
before August 31, 2021. Funding will support behavioral health providers delivering SUD and
mental health treatment services, with an emphasis on telehealth treatment options, during the
COVID-19 public health emergency. Thirty percent of grant funds will be awarded to mental
health treatment providers, with one-third of that amount specifically allocated for serving health
care practitioners with mental health conditions requiring care as a result of COVID-19. Seventy
percent of grant funds will be awarded to SUD treatment providers in Opioid Treatment
Programs, outpatient treatment, intensive outpatient treatment, and residential treatment to
individuals impacted by COVID-19.
Providers must implement evidence-based mental and/or SUD treatment services that may occur
through telehealth; screen and assess clients for the presence of mental health conditions or
SUDs; utilize clear processes for referring individuals experiencing mental health crisis; ensure
grant funds serve as the payer of last resort; be licensed, accredited, and/or certified by DHCS as
of April 10, 2020; and collect GPRA and progress reporting data for submission to SAMHSA.