2026 Behavioral Health Information Notices

Supersedes BHIN 26-015. 2026 Behavioral Health Network Adequacy Certification Requirements: Establishes and clarifies network adequacy certification submission requirements for county Behavioral Health Plans.
For copies of the following attachments, please send a request to NAOS@dhcs.ca.gov:  
Attachment A – DMC-ODS Expected Utilization (DMC-ODS_IBHP)
Attachment B – Time or Distance Standards
Attachment C.1– Alternative Access Standards Request Template (BHP)
Attachment C.2 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (IBHP)
Attachment C.3 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (DMC-IBHDS)
Attachment D.1 – Timely Access Data Tool (MHP)
Attachment D.2 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-ODS Plan)
Attachment D.3 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC State Plan County)
Attachment D.4 – Timely Access Data Tool (IBHP)
Attachment D.5 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-IBHDS)
Attachment E – Certification of Network Adequacy Data
Attachment F.1 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (BHP)
Attachment F.2 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (IBHP)
Attachment G.1 – Language Line Encounter Template (BHP)
Attachment G.2 – Language Line Encounter Template (IBHP)
Attachment H – Supplemental Data Tool
Attachment I – Significant Change Attestation Template
Attachment J – Significant Change Disclosure Template

Supersedes BHIN 24-041. Provides guidance to the counties on the data reporting requirements to monitor the performance of the CARE Act model using the standards set forth in the CARE Act Data Dictionary. The revised guidance aligns with new requirements outlined in Senate Bill 27, which expanded the CARE Act eligible diagnoses to include individuals with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. The revisions also clarify that the data and information collected by DHCS shall be included in CARE reports to the extent that this data is available. 

Removal of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) County Data Collection Reporting (DCR) Requirement: Notifies counties and their network providers that the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is eliminating the requirement that counties report on MHSA Full-Service Partnership (FSP) outcomes via the DCR system.

Supersedes BHIN 25-013 and superseded by BHIN 26-023. 2026 Behavioral Health Network Adequacy Certification Requirements: Establishes and clarifies network adequacy certification submission requirements for county Behavioral Health Plans.
For copies of the following attachments, please send a request to NAOS@dhcs.ca.gov:  
Attachment A – DMC-ODS Expected Utilization (DMC-ODS_IBHP)
Attachment B – Time or Distance Standards
Attachment C.1– Alternative Access Standards Request Template (BHP)
Attachment C.2 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (IBHP)
Attachment C.3 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (DMC-IBHDS)
Attachment D.1 – Timely Access Data Tool (MHP)
Attachment D.2 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-ODS Plan)
Attachment D.3 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC State Plan County)
Attachment D.4 – Timely Access Data Tool (IBHP)
Attachment D.5 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-IBHDS)
Attachment E – Certification of Network Adequacy Data
Attachment F.1 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (BHP)
Attachment F.2 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (IBHP)
Attachment G.1 – Language Line Encounter Template (BHP)
Attachment G.2 – Language Line Encounter Template (IBHP)
Attachment H – Supplemental Data Tool
Attachment I – Significant Change Attestation Template
Attachment J – Significant Change Disclosure Template

BHIN 26-014 Preliminary Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27. This Information Notice transmits the SFY 2026-27 Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) Preliminary Allocations to County Behavioral Health Directors and County Drug and Alcohol Administrators for informational and planning purposes.

• Exhibit A – SFY 2026-27 Budget Allocation Overview of Programs, Funding and Allocation Methodologies
• Exhibit B – SFY 2026-27 Statewide Allocation Summary
• Exhibit C – Exchange Program Summary 

• Real Time Behavioral Health Data Sharing FAQ’s

• Enclosure 1 California Opioid Settlements Glossary – CA Subdivision Fund

California Participating Subdivision Use of Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated from the California Abatement Accounts Fund. – Supersedes BHIN 24-002

• Enclosure 1 Reasonable Administrative Cost Policy-Supersedes Enclosure 1 RAC
• Enclosure 2 California Opioid Settlements Glossary – CA Abatement Accounts Fund

• Attachment A: Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) Facility Designation Interim Regulations (Feb. 24, 2026)
• Attachment B: Application for Facility Designation Approval or Renewal of Approval form DHCS 25-0022 (02/2026)

Provides reimbursement guidance to county Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) regarding covered Medi-Cal services provided to a Medi-Cal member diagnosed only with a severe substance use disorder (SUD) as part of involuntary evaluation and treatment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act. Please submit any questions to CountySupport@dhcs.ca.gov.

• Enclosure 1: LPS-Reporting Data Element Dictionary
• Enclosure 2: Attachment A

• Enclosure 1: DHCS Approved Youth Trauma Screening Tools  

Supersedes BHIN 20-043: Inpatient Specialty Mental Health Services Criteria:  Provides guidance to county Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) regarding medical necessity criteria for coverage of inpatient specialty mental health services (SMHS), including psychiatric inpatient hospital services, psychiatric inpatient hospital professional services, and psychiatric health facility services. Submit any questions to CountySupport@dhcs.ca.gov.