Summary
The UCLA Center for Health Policy Research received a 2-year contract from the California Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC) to assess progress made in implementing a system of care in California for older adults with serious mental illness and to identify methods to further statewide progress in this area.
As part of the assessment, authors examined a representative sample of counties that have systematically implemented services tailored to meet the distinctive challenges and needs faced by the older adult population, including historically disadvantaged and un/underserved older population subgroups. In addition, authors gauged the extent to which the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA), passed in 2004, has facilitated or bolstered the implementation of a system of care for older adults.
The resulting report recommends 24 indicators to help measure the mental health care of older Californians and 5 broad policy recommendations to strengthen oversight function of the state and improve quality of care for older adults. The report was funded by the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission (MHSOAC), Contract 14MHS0AC16.