Mental Health Licensing & Certification Branch
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The Mental Health
Licensing & Certification (MHLC) Branch of the Department of Health Care
Services (DHCS) is responsible for the licensing of psychiatric and
rehabilitation care facilities, and the approval and/or certification of mental
health programs on a statewide basis, ranging from acute to long-term programs.
MHLC Branch is responsible for implementing and maintaining a system to ensure
compliance with licensing requirements, as specified in state statutes, for the
entire range of 24-hour psychiatric and rehabilitation care facilities,
including Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers (MHRCs), Psychiatric Health
Facilities (PHFs) and Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). MHLC
Branch responsibilities include the implementation of civil and monetary
sanctions, including cease and desist orders, on DHCS' licensed mental health
facilities, as well as procedures for the appeal of an administrative action.
MHLC Branch is also responsible for the approval of 5150 facilities designated
by the counties throughout the State of California for the purpose of 72-hour
treatment and evaluation under Welfare and Institutions Code (W&I) Code Section
5150 of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act and the Children's Civil Commitment and
Mental Health Treatment Act, W&I Code Sections 5585.50/5585.55. In
addition, the MHLC Branch collects data on a quarterly basis from each
county mental health program or facility on the number of involuntary
detentions, the number of temporary and permanent conservatorships established,
and the number of persons receiving outpatient services provided within
a jail facility. MHLC Branch provides oversight and determines compliance
with state law, regulations and other governing requirements for residential
mental health treatment programs that serve children and adults. Additionally,
MHLC Branch is responsible for conducting Institution for Mental Disease (IMD)
determinations for facilities in accordance with the IMD guidelines issued in
sections 4390 and 4390.1 of the State Medicaid Manual. To initiate the IMD
determination process, please contact MHLC Branch via phone at (916) 323-1864
or email at MHIMD@dhcs.ca.gov.
Contact Information
Main MHLC Branch Phone Number: (916) 323-1864
MHLC Branch Email Address: MHLC@dhcs.ca.gov
PRTF Email Address: PRTF@dhcs.ca.gov
LPS Email Address: LPSInfo@dhcs.ca.gov
MHData@dhcs.ca.gov
Mental Health Program Certification Email Address: ChildrenMHPA@dhcs.ca.gov
AdultMHCertification@dhcs.ca.gov
24-Hour Unusual Occurrence Report (UOR) Report Line: (916) 327-8378
UOR Email Address: MHUOR2@dhcs.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 440-5600
Mail: P.O. Box 997413, MS 2800
Sacramento, CA 95899-7413
File a Complaint
Any person may submit a complaint to DHCS concerning the operation of an MHRC, PHF, or PRTF. To file a complaint against an MHRC, PHF, or PRTF, please fill out the online Complaint Form and click “Submit” at the bottom of the page.
A complaint may also be filed orally or in writing. The complaint should specify enough details of the alleged violation to enable DHCS to determine the date and time, who was involved, and what the violation was. If you prefer to file your complaint by phone, email, fax, or mail, please use the MHLC Branch Complaint Contact Information below.
Please note, complainants will not be automatically notified of the outcome of a complaint. However, a complainant may request the outcome upon closure of the investigation, and a Public Records Act (PRA) request will be initiated on the complainant's behalf. If you are not the complainant and would like information regarding the outcome of a complaint after it is closed, please submit a PRA request. For more information on the PRA process, please visit the Public Records Act home page.
Complaint Contact Information
Complaint Report Line: (916) 327-8378
Complaint Email Address: MHUOR2@dhcs.ca.gov
Fax: (916) 440-5600
Mail: P.O. Box 997413, MS 2800
Sacramento, CA 95899-7413