The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual has been updated with important information and resources for counties. These updates reflect feedback from the BHSA County Policy Manual Module 4 and performance measures public comment periods, during which DHCS received more than 360 public comments. The policy manual is a comprehensive guide for counties, behavioral health providers, Tribal partners, and other behavioral health stakeholders as they implement BHSA requirements.
This update is focused on evidence-based practices (EBPs), community-defined evidence practices (CDEPs), foundational requirements for Full Service Partnership (FSP) EBPs, and oversight responsibilities, including reporting, compliance reviews, and enforcement. The updated BHSA County Policy Manual introduces California’s first statewide BHSA performance measures to increase transparency, strengthen accountability, and guide data‑driven decision making. Developed with public and expert input, the measures track progress in access to care, quality and clinical outcomes, BHSA service outcomes, such as housing stability and crisis reductions, and equity across demographic groups and priority populations. Measures will be available to behavioral health plans and managed care plans in
Medi‑Cal Connect, refreshed monthly, and publicly reported annually to support community planning and targeted interventions.
For specific questions about the
Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual, email
BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
Click the button below to go to the BHSA County Policy Manual:
Policy Manual
