On Tuesday, December 3, the Department of Health Care Services
(DHCS) released for public comment its second set of draft
guidance to counties on the behavioral health transformation
provisions under Proposition 1. Comments will be accepted on the
draft
Behavioral Health Transformation (BHT) Policy Manual Module 2
from December 3 through December 23, 2024. The
public comment period is intended to allow counties and the
broader public to provide insights on each section, ensuring the
guidance for the BHT aligns with community needs. Once final, the
BHT Policy Manual will be a multi-module comprehensive guide to
assist counties and partner organizations comply with behavioral
health transformation requirements as detailed in the Behavioral
Health Services Act, including developing and implementing
county integrated plans.
DHCS is releasing the BHT Policy Manual in smaller, more
manageable parts called “modules.” Each module focuses on
specific areas of policy and procedure, allowing stakeholders to
engage with and understand each section in depth. Module 2
includes guidance on BHSA Fiscal Policies, Behavioral Health
Services and Supports (including Early Intervention),
Full-Service Partnerships, and Documentation Requirements for
Clinical BHSA Services. The module is being released using
software that will allow Californians to directly submit feedback
that can be analyzed and incorporated into the County Behavioral
Health Transformation Policy Manual.
Just like Module 1, DHCS encourages review and comment on the BHT
Policy Manual Module 2 through the user-friendly,
online platform. This platform allows for more interactive
engagement, including new search-friendly functions to aid the
content development process, allowing input to be easily provided
and taken into consideration. An instructional training video
provides additional guidance on submitting comments. Comments
must be submitted by 5 p.m. PST on December 23,
2024. In addition to your county submitting its
individual comments, CSAC would be happy to receive
comments/feedback for submittal of a broader county response. To
allow time for review and compilation, please submit
comments/feedback to Jolie Onodera jonodera@counties.org by
Tuesday, December 18.
