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Behavioral Wellness plans bed expansions and crisis system overhaul ahead of state transformation
Summary
Behavioral Wellness presented a growth‑focused 2025–26 budget that adds treatment capacity, funds higher costs for psychiatric inpatient and skilled nursing placements, and implements crisis system changes ahead of statewide Behavioral Health Transformation.
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness department told supervisors April 14 that its 2025–26 budget will fund immediate expansions in capacity while preparing for state payment‑model changes under Behavioral Health Transformation (Prop 1 implementation beginning July 2026).
Director Tony Navarro said the budget increases primarily to cover higher utilization of acute and sub‑acute treatment beds, rising costs for specialized care (including psychiatric inpatient and skilled nursing placements that are not fully Medi‑Cal reimbursable), and one‑time investments to ready the county for payment reform and new crisis benefits. The…
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