Behavioral Health Treatment (BHT) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Provider Enrollment
Updated September 3, 2025
As of July 1, 2025, enrolled Qualified Autism Service (QAS) Providers may render and submit claims for reimbursement to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) directly for BHT services provided to children enrolled in fee-for-service (FFS) Medi-Cal. Information about Medi-Cal's BHT policy is available in the Medi-Cal Provider Manual.
1. Which BHT providers need to enroll in Medi-Cal?
The enrollment pathway is only for Board Certified Behavioral Analysts (BCBA) and Educational Psychologists who will enroll as QAS Providers through Medi-Cal's provider enrollment system. QAS Providers may enroll as individuals or organizations.
2. Do QAS Professionals or QAS Paraprofessionals need to enroll?
No. Only QAS Providers and CBOs who will bill DHCS or a Medi-Cal Managed Care Plan (MCP) need to enroll.
3. Do I need to report QAS Providers, QAS Professionals, and QAS Paraprofessionals in the online enrollment portal?
Starting November 17, 2025, and subject to notice and confer requirements, QAS Providers and CBOs will be able to attest to the qualifications of their QAS Providers, QAS Professionals, and QAS Paraprofessionals and will not need to report them individually in the provider enrollment system. Instead, QAS Providers and CBOs will need to maintain an active, current list of all BHT providers who work under their supervision and make that information available to DHCS upon request and in the event of a state or federal audit. The list will need to include the national provider identifier (NPI) numbers, first and last names, and any applicable professional license numbers or certification numbers or registration numbers of the individuals providing BHT services. Until this attestation is added to the online enrollment portal, QAS Providers and CBOs may submit an application listing only one individual BHT provider.
4. How frequently do I need report changes to the information I entered in the online enrollment portal?
Once a QAS Provider or CBO is enrolled, any changes to previously reported information are required to be reported to DHCS within 35 days of the change by submitting a supplemental application in the provider enrollment portal, in accordance with section 51000.40 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 22. These changes must be made in the provider enrollment system by accessing your account.
5. How would a QAS Provider enroll who employs QAS Professionals and QAS Paraprofessionals?
QAS provider organizations will not enroll as groups, but as a Healthcare Business. When beginning the application in the enrollment, select the “I am a Healthcare Business" option (do not select the options for Group or Mixed Group).. BCBAs will not submit separate applications and will not individually enroll. For more information, please see Question #8 under the Provider Enrollment section of the Questions and Answers webpage.
6. Do QAS Providers who are licensed providers need to enroll or submit a supplemental enrollment application to bill for BHT services?
No. DHCS implemented system edits to enable actively enrolled billing physicians, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, licensed marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists to bill for BHT services provided on or after July 1, 2025, to Medi-Cal FFS members, without taking additional action.
7. Do I still need to enroll if I only intend to provide BHT services to Medi-Cal members with a MCP?
Yes. Once this enrollment pathway was established, all QAS Providers must enroll even if they only intend on continuing to contract with MCPs and will not provide BHT services to Medi-Cal FFS members. Please refer to the All Plan Letter 22-013 and APL 22-013 Frequently Asked Questions for more information about Medi-Cal Managed Care Screening and Enrollment Requirements.
8. How do I enroll if I am a BCBA who works out of my home and do not have an established place of business (EPOB) where I see clients?
Medi-Cal policy currently requires that QAS Providers have an EPOB, in compliance with section 51000.60 of Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations. However, Medi-Cal individual BCBAs who are contracted with a Medi-Cal MCP and do not have an EPOB where they provide services to Medi-Cal members are currently exempted from enrolling. However, DHCS will publish a regulatory bulletin in September 2025 that will waive the EPOB requirement for these individuals, starting November 17, subject to notice and confer requirements. Once this enrollment pathway is available, individual BCBAs will have 120 days to enroll to continue to provide BHT services to Medi-Cal members in a Medi-Cal MCP. BCBAs will enroll through the “Healthcare Business" pathway. For more information, please see question #5 above.
9. Do I need an NPI number to enroll?
Yes. All enrolled, billing and rendering providers need an NPI. To apply and receive an NPI online, visit the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System website.
10. Can a CBO bill for BHT services?
Yes. A CBO may enroll and bill for BHT services provided to Medi-Cal FFS members on or after July 1, 2025. CBOs that have previously enrolled can submit a supplemental application to the provider enrollment system to allow them to bill for BHT services.
11. Is there any assistance to help me enroll?
Yes. DHCS created an enrollment checklist to assist QAS Providers to identify what documents and information they will need when submitting their application in the online enrollment portal. Additional information is also available in the FAQ for Medi-Cal Provider Enrollment for QAS provider organizations, QAS individuals, and CBOs offering BHT services.
For more information, please see the provider enrollment FAQ for QAS Providers.
