Individual Service Level Encounter Reporting
The launch of the Individual Service Level (ISL) encounter reporting system marks a significant advancement in California’s Behavioral Health Transformation efforts. ISL reporting provides a unified, statewide view of non‑Medi‑Cal behavioral health services delivered directly to clients by county behavioral health systems and provider networks. ISL reporting is a BHSA‑mandated requirement and applies exclusively to services not reimbursed by DHCS through Medi‑Cal.
ISL reporting will give counties improved insight into the scope, quality, and consistency of behavioral health services across California. Counties can use the system to access real-time feedback on data quality and validation issues and may choose to submit data through either a Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources‑compliant Application Programming Interface to support semi‑automated submission, or the system’s full‑featured software, which enables comprehensive data management.
How will ISL data be used?
- Fulfill BHSA reporting, oversight, and compliance requirements.
- Provide insight into behavioral health service delivery.
- Support performance outcomes measurement.
- Connect services to funding utilized.
- Inform future policy decisions.
Counties must begin reporting ISL encounters for services delivered on or after January 1, 2027. At minimum, counties must submit ISL encounters annually, no later than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year in which services were rendered. Counties may begin submitting data as early as July 1, 2026, to support system testing, technical assistance, and a smooth rollout. Data submitted during this initial six-month period will not be used for performance monitoring or compliance. Counties are strongly encouraged to begin submitting early. DHCS will provide counties with training and technical assistance as they transition to the ISL encounter reporting system.
July 1 marks DHCS’ official transition from the Mental Health Services Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA), ushering in a new era of behavioral health funding, accountability, and modernization.