​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​CalAIM Behavioral Health Initiative Frequently Asked Questions 

Are seven-domain assessments as specified in Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-068 required for Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) crisis intervention or crisis stabilization services? What about Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) or Drug Medi-Cal (DMC)/Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) mobile crisis services?

Do the changes to assessment timelines for Specialty Mental Health Services impact Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment and Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC)-35 requirements? What about the Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment (ANSA) (for adults)?

If a Mental Health Plan (MHP) has a current assessment template within their electronic health record that captures all seven (7) Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) assessment domains, will the MHP be required to re-structure their assessment, so it is categorized by the new domains?

Are the seven (7) domains for a Specialty Mental Health Services assessment required for psychiatric diagnostic evaluations?

Should providers document a reason for taking more time than usual to complete an assessment?​

Can a provider update the problem list to include diagnoses that are outside their scope of practice (e.g., the member reports a cancer diagnosis to a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist)?

Can providers add problems to the problem list that are not diagnoses?

Does identifying a staff's credential (e.g., LCSW) meet the requirement for "title" of provider in the problem list?

Because it is not feasible for all currently opened members to be transferred to having a problem list, what is DHCS' expectation for when members who have been opened prior to 7/1/22 get a problem list? 

Will the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) be adjusting the progress note timeframes outlined in Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-068? How does this timeframe apply when notes are completed by providers practicing under supervision?

How do the progress note requirements in Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-068 apply to bundled services such as per diem rates for residential treatment?

How should providers document a group service if it is provided as a component of a bundled service? For example, members receiving residential treatment may participate in group services as well as other services or activities during the course of a single day.

Can a group participant list substitute for an individual group progress note in the member record?

Are the progress note requirements stated in Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-068 what is minimally required by DHCS?

Do progress notes need to include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) descriptor in addition to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code?

Are member signatures required for group service progress notes?

Is Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) care coordination the same as Targeted Case Management (TCM)?

Can Targeted Case Management (TCM) services be provided prior to an assessment and completion of a TCM Care Plan?

Why are Narcotic Treatment Programs (NTPs) exempt from the guidance in Behavioral Health Information Notice 23-068?

Have the requirements for medication consents changed? This section was removed from the Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) Triennial Protocol and the Mental Health Plan (MHP) Contract and Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) 23-068 doesn't touch on medication consent requirements. 

If Mental Health Plan (MHP) providers can now deliver co-occurring treatment and focus on a member's substance use disorder (SUD) needs as clinically appropriate, does that mean the member's clinical record with the MHP will now be governed by 42 CFR Part 2?

Are Medicare requirements being taken into consideration since counties must bill to Medicare first? Do members who have Medicare and Medi-Cal need treatment plans?

To reduce documentation time, is it acceptable to use checkboxes except where “narrative" is required?

(Added December 2022) Is there still a Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) requirement to document the diagnosis as a narrative summary based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-)5 criteria?

How may providers document the member's involvement in the treatment process?​