Public Notice: Change in Service for Senior Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

In accordance with California Health and Safety Code Section 1255.1,1255.5 and Senate Bill 1300 (SB1300), UC San Diego Health is providing public notice of a proposed change in service involving the closure and relocation of its Senior Behavioral Health (SBH) Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) services located at 410 Dickinson Street, San Diego, CA 92103.

  • Facility: UC San Diego Health, Hillcrest Medical Center.
  • Service Affected: Senior Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
  • Proposed Effective Date: No sooner than 90 days from the date of this notice (notice posted on May 20, 2025).
  • The SBH IOP provided intensive outpatient group therapy services for older adults diagnosed with behavioral health conditions, with the majority of patients treated for major depressive disorders.
  • Between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2024, the SBH IOP served 141 unique patients. Patients were primarily aged 65 and older and represented a racially and ethnically diverse population, with the majority identifying as White/Caucasian.
  • The SBH IOP has served patients covered by Medicare and commercial insurance plans.
  • Less than 5 personnel are expected to be impacted by the change in services.
  • Aggregate demographic and service data will be shared with Medi-Cal managed care plans in compliance with SB1300.
  • This change is part of a broader initiative to enhance behavioral health services at the UC San Diego Health East Campus Medical Center, including the expansion of higher levels of care such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), increased home-based care, and further integration of outpatient behavioral health programs.
  • The transition is intended to improve access, streamline care delivery, and better meet the behavioral health needs of the region.
  • UC San Diego Health will continue to provide inpatient psychiatric services at Hillcrest Medical Center (age >18) and East Campus Medical Center (age >50). UC San Diego Health will continue to provide outpatient psychiatric services at Outpatient Psychiatric Services Hillcrest, La Jolla, and Rancho Bernardo locations.
  • Other known local intensive outpatient geriatric behavioral health service providers include Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, Paradise Valley Hospital, and Sharp Grossmont Hospital, which accept Medicare and commercial insurance plans.
  • UC San Diego Health will continue to provide inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services at Hillcrest Medical Center (age >18) and East Campus Medical Center (age >50).

Comments or questions may be submitted to: publiccomments@health.ucsd.edu

UC San Diego Health may be reached at 858-657-7000

The closest comparable facilities offering intensive outpatient geriatric behavioral health services are:

San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital (3 miles)
3853 Rosecrans Street, San Diego, CA 92110

Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital (5 miles)
7850 Vista Hill Avenue, San Diego, CA 92123

Paradise Valley Hospital – Bayview Behavioral Health Campus (14 miles)
330 Moss Street, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Sharp Grossmont Hospital - Senior Intensive Outpatient Program (12 miles)
5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa, CA 91942