Improving Mental Health Account

1. (a)

   1. (1) Moneys in the Improving Mental Health Account shall be used for the purpose of expanding access to mental health programs and services as set forth in this section.
   2. (2) Moneys in the account shall be used to provide additional funding for inpatient psychiatric services pursuant to subdivision (b).

2. (b) The department shall, subject to the stakeholder input requirements of Section 14199.121, use the moneys in the account for the purpose of increasing the supply of mental health inpatient psychiatric beds by providing a supplemental payment for psychiatric inpatient days in licensed acute care hospitals and acute psychiatric hospitals. These payments shall:

   1. (1) Increase the net reimbursement levels paid to these hospitals with respect to those services above the existing net reimbursement levels in effect for those services as of January 1, 2024.
   2. (2) Not affect or supplant any other payments to these hospitals.
   3. (3) Be made to these hospitals irrespective of contracting status with a county mental health plan or with a Medi-Cal managed care plan or other managed care entity that is financially responsible for psychiatric inpatient hospital services under contract with the department, as applicable.