DHCS Opens 30-Day Public Comment Period for Addendum to Pending BH-CONNECT Demonstration and Announces Upcoming Public Hearings

June 20, 2024

Last Friday, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) began a 30-day public comment period for a new addendum to the pending Section 1115 Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Demonstration. The public comment period runs from June 14, 2024, through July 14, 2024. Specifically, DHCS proposes to allow county behavioral health plans to opt in to one or both of the following opportunities to meet the unique needs of Medi-Cal members who live with the most complex and significant behavioral health conditions:

Community Transition In-Reach Services to support individuals with significant behavioral health conditions who are experiencing long-term stays in institutions as they return to the community.
Room and Board in Enriched Residential Settings for up to six months for individuals with significant behavioral health conditions and specified risk factors. These settings will:
- Be limited in size to 16 beds or less and must be unlocked and voluntary.
- Provide Medi-Cal covered, voluntary, and recovery-oriented services.
- Meet statewide standards established by DHCS in consultation with individuals with lived experience, advocacy groups, stakeholders, and tribal partners.

All public comment materials are posted on the
DHCS BH-CONNECT webpage. DHCS will update this page throughout the public comment period and application process. The following materials are posted on the webpage:

Opportunities to Comment – Accepted via U.S. mail or electronic mail

Written Comments – may be sent to the following address. Please indicate “BH-CONNECT Addendum” in the written message:

Department of Health Care Services
Director’s Office
Attn: Tyler Sadwith
P.O. Box 997413, MS 0000
Sacramento, California 95899-7413

Email Comments – may be submitted to 1115Waiver@dhcs.ca.gov. Please indicate “BH-CONNECT Addendum” in the subject line of the email message.

To ensure consideration prior to the submission of the BH-CONNECT Addendum application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), comments must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time (PT) on July 14, 2024. Comments will continue to be accepted after July 14, but DHCS may be unable to consider those comments prior to the submission of the BH-CONNECT Addendum application to CMS.

Public Hearings

DHCS will virtually host the following public hearings to encourage and solicit stakeholder comments. The meetings will take place in person and have online video streaming and telephonic conference capabilities to ensure statewide accessibility.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024 – First Public Hearing
- 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PT
- Department of Health Care Services
  - 1700 K Street, Room 1014, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Register for Zoom conference link: https://manatt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_WmtEKY7YQ9WI9Y2KOEt3bA
  - Please register in advance to receive your unique login details and link to add to your calendar.
- Call-in information: 833-548-0276 (Toll Free)
  - Phone Number: 915 1321 2168
  - Access Code: 062524
  - Callers do not need an email address to use the phone option and do not need to register in advance.
Tuesday, July 2, 2024 – Second Public Hearing
- 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. PT
- Department of Health Care Services
  - 1515 K Street, Room 204, Sacramento, CA 95814
- Register for Zoom conference link: https://manatt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MbBcSeVHQCC3GBrc7DPyXw
  - Please register in advance to receive your unique login details and link to add to your calendar.
- Call-in information: 833-928-4608 (Toll Free)
  - Phone Number: 924 7133 3204
  - Access Code: 070224
  - Callers do not need an email address to use the phone option and do not need to register in advance.