County Policy Manual
Behavioral Health Transformation
Behavioral Health Performance Measures Rates Now Available
California’s first set of performance measures under the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) provide a shared, data‑driven framework for counties and Medi‑Cal managed care plans (MCP) to strengthen planning, improve population health, and support more equitable behavioral health service delivery. Designed to advance core BHSA goals, these measures will help improve behavioral health outcomes statewide. They go beyond tracking numbers; the measures translate directly into real-world outcomes, showing where Californians are getting connected to crisis care, treatment, and housing.
By significantly improving the completeness of behavioral health data, DHCS can offer meaningful insights that guide planning, inform resource allocation, and enhance transparency. The measures help counties, MCPs, and DHCS understand where services exist or are needed, and how funding aligns with local needs through targeted interventions. Over time, DHCS will use these measures to help enforce policy and contractual requirements that counties and MCPs must deliver.
The measures were developed with input from the Behavioral Health Transformation Quality and Equity Advisory Committee (QEAC), counties, stakeholders, providers, community partners, and subject matter experts through a structured process identifying statewide priorities, selecting measures aligned with those priorities, and developing detailed specifications for each measure.
Please see the calculated rates for the performance measures. In the future, these measures will be available through the Behavioral Health Public County Profile.
For questions, email BHTinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.
The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual has been updated with new information and resources to support counties in the transition to BHSA on July 1, 2026. 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 includes:
- A revised Annual and Intermittent Update template, featuring new questions on performance measures and Full Service Partnership (FSP) eligibility.
These updates reflect input received during the BHSA County Policy Manual Module 5 public comment period (March 6–27, 2026). The revised guidance supports counties as they maintain and adjust their Integrated Plans through:
- Annual Updates, which provide comprehensive, required yearly reviews.
- Intermittent Updates, which allow for targeted, as-needed improvements.
This update represents an important milestone in implementing Proposition 1, a key component of Governor Newsom’s Mental Health for All Initiative. Proposition 1 advances treatment access, expands housing supports, strengthens culturally responsive care, and improves California’s behavioral health system.
For questions about the BHSA County Policy Manual, please email bhtinfo@dhcs.ca.gov.