No. Issued
| Subject
| Date
|
DRAFT REVISION OF BHIN 25-037
| The purpose of this BHIN revision is to provide guidance to County Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) on the implementation and management of Activity Funds as part of the broader BH-CONNECT initiative. This guidance revision includes updates to eligibility language, clarification of allowable activities, defined roles and responsibilities for Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHPs) and counties, updated fiscal process guidance, and program monitoring expectations for the Activity Funds Initiative. Please provide feedback to BH-CONNECT@dhcs.ca.gov by Thursday, 5/28/2026. To support timely review and final publication, please include the relevant page number and paragraph or section reference when submitting BHIN feedback.
| 5/14/2026
|
BHIN 26-XXX
| The updated draft BHIN 26-XXX: Medi-Cal Coverage for High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) for Children and Youth outlines core policy and compliance requirements for HFW under Medi-Cal. The corresponding draft High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) Policy Manual provides additional operational guidance for counties and behavioral health practitioners on implementing HFW (Section 1), as well as requirements for training, fidelity monitoring, and data collection (Section 2) to support compliance with Medi-Cal and the BHSA.
The draft BHIN and the draft Policy Manual will remain publicly posted while final versions are under development, to support implementation of the July 1, 2026 requirement for all counties to implement HFW as part of the BHSA.
| 5/14/2026
|
BHIN 26-020
| Guidance for Requesting Inactive Status for Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) Licenses and Certifications Following Declared Emergencies or Disasters | 5/12/2026
|
BHIN 26-019
| Provides guidance on MHP and DMC-ODS Plan requirements for CPS and TPS data collection and submission.
| 5/5/2026
|
BHIN 26-018
| Provides guidance to the county mental health plans (MHPs), Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) counties, and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) plans about Medi-Cal mobile crisis data requirements and updates to reporting frequency.
| 4/28/2026
|
BHIN 26-017
| Supersedes BHIN 24-041. Provides guidance to the counties on the data reporting requirements to monitor the performance of the CARE Act model using the standards set forth in the CARE Act Data Dictionary. The revised guidance aligns with new requirements outlined in Senate Bill 27, which expanded the CARE Act eligible diagnoses to include individuals with bipolar I disorder with psychotic features. The revisions also clarify that the data and information collected by DHCS shall be included in CARE reports to the extent that this data is available.
| 5/14/2026
|
BHIN 26-016
| Removal of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) County Data Collection Reporting (DCR) Requirement: Notifies counties and their network providers that the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is eliminating the requirement that counties report on MHSA Full-Service Partnership (FSP) outcomes via the DCR system.
| 4/7/2026
|
BHIN 26-015
| Supersedes BHIN 25-013. 2026 Behavioral Health Network Adequacy Certification Requirements: Establishes and clarifies network adequacy certification submission requirements for county Behavioral Health Plans.
-
For copies of the following attachments, please send a request to NAOS@dhcs.ca.gov:
-
Attachment A – DMC-ODS Expected Utilization (DMC-ODS_IBHP)
-
Attachment B – Time or Distance Standards
-
Attachment C.1– Alternative Access Standards Request Template (BHP)
-
Attachment C.2 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (IBHP)
-
Attachment C.3 – Alternative Access Standards Request Template (DMC-IBHDS)
-
Attachment D.1 – Timely Access Data Tool (MHP)
-
Attachment D.2 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-ODS Plan)
-
Attachment D.3 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC State Plan County)
-
Attachment D.4 – Timely Access Data Tool (IBHP)
-
Attachment D.5 – Timely Access Data Tool (DMC-IBHDS)
-
Attachment E – Certification of Network Adequacy Data
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Attachment F.1 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (BHP)
-
Attachment F.2 – Continuity-Transition of Care Report Template (IBHP)
-
Attachment G.1 – Language Line Encounter Template (BHP)
-
Attachment G.2 – Language Line Encounter Template (IBHP)
-
Attachment H – Supplemental Data Tool
-
Attachment I – Significant Change Attestation Template
-
Attachment J – Significant Change Disclosure Template
| 4/1/2026
|
BHIN 26-014
|
BHIN 26-014 Preliminary Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27. This Information Notice transmits the SFY 2026-27 Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant (SUBG) Preliminary Allocations to County Behavioral Health Directors and County Drug and Alcohol Administrators for informational and planning purposes. -
Exhibit A – SFY 2026-27 Budget Allocation Overview of Programs, Funding and Allocation Methodologies
-
Exhibit B – SFY 2026-27 Statewide Allocation Summary
-
Exhibit C – Exchange Program Summary
| 3/25/2026
|
BHIN 26-013
| Outlines real time data sharing requirements for Behavioral Health Programs (BHPs), and Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) Counties. The BHIN, along with the accompanying APL 26‑004, provides clarifying and updated responsibilities for counties to support the secure and real time exchange of physical and behavioral health information with Medi-Cal partners to facilitate timely care coordination. These responsibilities include sharing admission, discharge, and event notifications with each other in real time; using the Authorization to Share Confidential Member Information (ASCMI) Form as the standardized release of information form to share sensitive information, as needed; and sharing data necessary for state and federal reporting.
If you have any questions, please reach out to countysupport@dhcs.ca.gov
| 3/16/2026
|
BHIN 26-012
| This Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) updates guidance regarding the cost allocation methodology for Mental Health Plan Administration as described in
BHIN 21-027.
| 3/10/2026
|
BHIN 26-011
| California Participating Subdivision Use of Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated from the California Abatement Accounts Fund. – Supersedes
BHIN 24-003
| 3/6/2026
|
BHIN 26-010
| California Participating Subdivision Use of Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated from the California Abatement Accounts Fund. – Supersedes
BHIN 24-002
| 3/6/2026
|
BHIN 26-009
| This Behavioral Health Information Notice (BHIN) is notification of the immediate implementation of the LPS Facility Designation Interim Regulations. These interim regulations have been established pursuant to
SB 1238 (Eggman, Chapter 644, Statutes of 2024).
| 2/24/2026
|
BHIN 26-008
|
Supersedes
BHIN 22-068. Interoperability Requirements for Mental Health Plans and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery Systems. Provides information to Behavioral Health Plans on the Application Programming Interface (API) requirements outlined in CMS-9115-F and the provisions of CMS-0057-F final rule.
| 2/10/2026
|
BHIN 26-007
| Reporting Requirements for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities: Provides guidance regarding the expansion of California Health & Safety Code 11830.01 to require SUD recovery or treatment facilities to report additional information not previously required concerning the death of a resident. The new requirements are effective January 1, 2026.
| 2/9/2026
|
BHIN 26-006
| Admission Agreements and “Return to Use” Plans for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities: Provides guidance regarding the expansion of California Health & Safety Code Division 10.5, Part 2, Chapter 7.5, (commencing with section 11834.01) and notify SUD facilities of updates to requirements for admission agreements and “Return to Use” plans. The new requirements are effective January 1, 2026.
| 2/9/2026
|
BHIN 26-005
| Provides reimbursement guidance to county Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) regarding covered Medi-Cal services provided to a Medi-Cal member diagnosed only with a severe substance use disorder (SUD) as part of involuntary evaluation and treatment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act. Please submit any questions to
CountySupport@dhcs.ca.gov.
| 2/9/2026
|
BHIN 26-004
| Supersedes
BHIN 25-017: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities’ Licensure and Certification Fee Increase Beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2027
| 2/9/2026
|
BHIN 26-003
| Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Senate Bill (SB) 1184 Implementation: Notify stakeholders of SB1184 data reporting and collection requirements related to involuntary treatment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act.
| 1/27/2026
|
BHIN 26-002
| Supersedes
BHIN 21-073: Access Criteria to Specialty Mental Health Services Delivery System: Provides county Behavioral Health Plans (BHPs) with updated guidance on Access Criteria for the Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) delivery system and medical necessity. Updates guidance on DHCS-approved youth trauma screening tools for a member to access the SMHS delivery system. Please submit any questions to BHCalAIM@dhcs.ca.gov.
-
Enclosure 1: DHCS Approved Youth Trauma Screening Tools
| 1/20/2026
|
