Resources​

Current Opportunities for Public Comment

Draft BHIN 26-XXX: The HFW BHIN provides minimum requirements all BHPs must meet for providing HFW under Medi-Cal.  DHCS will release an accompanying HFW Policy Manual, which will provide required operational and practice standards for the implementation of HFW.  

Please provide feedback to BH-CONNECT@dhcs.ca.gov by January 29, 2026​​.​ ​

BH-CON​​NECT Poli​cy Guidance​​

• BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program Technical Specifications Manual  (December 2025)
• BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program Scoring Methodology and Benchmarks Manual​​ ​ (December 2025)
• BHIN 25-028: Coverage of BH-CONNECT Enhanced Community Health Worker (CHW) Services (July 2025)
• ​BH-CONNECT EBP Policy Guide (May 2025)
• BHIN 25-011: BH-CONNECT Option to Receive Federal Financial Participation for Specialty Mental Health Services in Institutions for Mental Diseases (April 2025)
• BHIN 25-009: Coverage of BH-CONNECT Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) (April 2025)
  
• BHIN 25-006: Provision of BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program (March 2025)
• BHIN 24-019: Targeted Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organizations (MBHO) Self-Directed Assessment with the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and County Participation in the BH-CONNECT Incentive Program (May 2024)​​​​​
• BHIN 25-041​: Community Transition In-Reach Services (November 2025)

Monitoring Reports​

• BH-CONNECT Monitoring Report DY1 Q1​: The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is required to submit monitoring reports to The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that includes operational updates, performance metrics, budget neutrality and financial reporting requirements, and evaluation activities and interim findings specific to the Behavioral Health Community-Based Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) demonstration. CMS approved the BH-CONNECT Monitoring Report for Demonstration Year 1, Quarter 1.  The report includes operational updates and highlights the Department’s efforts to implement the BH-CONNECT demonstration. ​​​

Key Documents

• BH-CONNECT Provider Payment Increase Attestation Table Approval​​ (November 2025)​
  
• ​Transitional Rent Payment Methodology​ (October 2025)
  
• CMS Approval Letter and HRSN Payment Methodology​ (January 2025)
• CMS Approval Letter and BH-CONNECT STCs Technical Corrections and Protocols (January 2025)​
  
• CMS Approval Letter​ (December 2024)
  
• BH-CONNECT News Release​ (December 2024)
  
• BH-CONNECT Addendum Request (July 2024)
  
• BH-CONNECT Demonstration Request​ (October 2023)​

Additional Resources​​​

• Medi-Cal and Foster Care Updates (November 2023)
• CalBH-CBC Demonstration Concept Paper (November 2022)
• CalBH-CBC Demonstration Concept Paper Executive Summary (November 2022)
• CalBH-CBC Demonstration Overview Presentation (November 2022)
• DHCS Medi-Cal Foster Care Strategies (November 2022)
• Assessing the Continuum of Care for Behavioral Health Services in California (January 2022)
• Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP) Reimbursement: Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) Requirements Q & A (October 2021)
• CMS SMI and SED Demonstration Opportunity Technical Assistance Questions and Answers (May 2019)
• CMS Qualified Residential Treatment Programs (QRTP) and SMI and SED Demonstration Opportunity Technical Assistance Questions and Answers (September 2019)
• CMS SMI and SED Demonstration Opportunity Technical Assistance Questions and Answers (Updated November 2019)
• CMS State Medicaid Director Letter #18-011 (Updated November 2018)​​​