This page is to provide counties with information on CalMHSA’s awareness of BHINs. CalMHSA monitors all BHINs and explores what implications they have for the EHR. Some BHINs do not impact the EHR, sometimes because of the subject matter or because the BHIN institutes more policy-focused guidance.
As CalMHSA works to implement any changes to the EHR due to BHINs, CalMHSA will provide counties with information in the regular channels. For example, if the BHIN is related to State Reporting, this will often be discussed in the State Reporting Office Hours call. Articles are also often published in the weekly Newsletter, and often Protocols are written and added to the Protocols page on this website.
CalMHSA can only respond to finalized BHINs. We often receive draft BHINs and may provide feedback on these drafts to DHCS through the appropriate channels, but we do not initiate a full analysis until guidance is finalized.
2026
| BHIN # | SUBJECT | Status | CalMHSA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-001 | Inpatient Specialty Mental Health Services Criteria | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-002 | Access Criteria to Specialty Mental Health Services Delivery System | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-003 | Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Senate Bill (SB) 1184 Implementation | In Design | Currently finalizing implementation of Phase 4 requirements (BHIN 25-030). Phase 5 design is in progress (BHIN 26-003). |
| 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 | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-005 | Reimbursement guidance for covered Medi-Cal services provided to a Medi-Cal member receiving involuntary treatment under the Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act for a severe substance usedisorder (SUD) only | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented |
| 26-006 | Admission Agreements and “Return to Use” Plans for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only; see protocol |
| 26-007 | Reporting Requirements for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-008 | Interoperability Requirements for MHPs and DMC-ODS Plans. | Implemented | Connex has the capability that is required by this BHIN. No additional setup or configuration is required by CalMHSA |
| 26-009 | Lanterman-Petris-Short Act (LPS) Facility Designation Interim Regulations | No EHR Impact | County site certification impact only |
| 26-010 | California Participating Subdivision Use of Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated from the California Abatement Accounts Fund. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-011 | California Plaintiff Subdivision Use of Opioid Settlement Funds Allocated from the California Subdivision Fund. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-012 | Updated Guidance re: Cost Allocation Methodology for Mental Health Plan Administration | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-013 | California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Real Time Behavioral Health Data Sharing Policy | Implemented | Connex has the capability that is required by this BHIN. No additional setup or configuration is required by CalMHSA |
| 26-014 | Preliminary Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-015 | Supersedes BHIN 25-013. 2026 Behavioral Health Network Adequacy Certification Requirements. | No EHR Impact | No changes to the TADT were noted, so no changes to TADT forms are required. |
| 26-016 | Removal of Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) County Data Collection Reporting (DCR) Requirement | Implemented | CalMHSA will not deactivate FSP reporting documents because counties will still have historical reporting to complete. Counties can deactivate forms as their reporting is complete. |
| 26-017 | Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Data and Reporting Guidelines | No EHR Impact | The BHIN doesn’t impact the EHR. There is a change in the data dictionary that isn’t called out in this BHIN. Updates to the CARE Act reporting screen based on changes to the Data Dictionary are in progress. Updates are provided in State Reporting Office Hours. |
| 26-018 | Medi-Cal Mobile Crisis Reporting Requirements | Implemented | CalMHSA has created 2 Mobile Crisis Reports. One is for QA purposes and the other is for state reporting purposes. |
| 26-019 | Supersedes BHIN 25-025 and BHIN 25-004. Mental Health Consumer Perception Survey (CPS) and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Treatment Perception Survey (TPS) data collection | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-020 | Guidance for Requesting Inactive Status for Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) Licenses and Certifications Following Declared Emergencies or Disasters | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-021 | Regional Average Rates for Non-Contract Psychiatric Inpatient Hospitals for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-022 | Narcotic Treatment Program (NTP) Counseling Unit Threshold and Manual Review | In Development | CalMHSA is creating a report. |
| 26-023 | 2026 Behavioral Health Network Adequacy Certification Requirements | No EHR Impact | No changes to the TADT were noted, so no changes to TADT forms are required. |
| 26-024 | Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Regulations superseded by Interim Guidance Provided through the Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) County Policy Manual. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-025 | Licensing Requirements for Psychiatric Health Facilities (PHFs) and Mental Health Rehabilitation Centers (MHRCs) seeking to admit individuals diagnosed solely with severe substance use disorders. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-026 | Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment Demonstration Option to Receive Federal Financial Participation for Specialty Mental Health Services in Institutions for Mental Diseases. | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup if they’ve opted in. |
| 26-027 | Administrative Day Rate for Fee-For-Service/Medi-Cal Hospitals and Short-Doyle Medi-Cal Hospitals for Calendar Year 2025 and 2026 | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-028 | Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026-27 Final Allocations | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 26-029 | Integrated Behavioral Health Member Handbook Requirements and Templates | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 26-030 | Authorization of Outpatient Specialty Mental Health Services (SMHS) | No EHR Impact | See Protocol |
2025
| BHIN # | SUBJECT | Status | CalMHSA Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25-001 | Update to Protocols for Collecting and Reporting Discharge Data in California Outcomes Measurement System Treatment (CalOMS Tx) | Implemented | Updates provided via State Reporting calls |
| 25-002 | Guidance on Temporary Waivers and Flexibilities for Behavioral Health Programs Impacted by Southern California Wildfires | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-003 | Certification of Alcohol and Other Drug Programs | Implemented | See protocol |
| 25-004 | Mental Health Consumer Perception Survey Data Collection | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-005 | Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year 2024-25 and 2025-26 Final Allocations | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-006 | Provision of Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-007 | Traditional Health Care Practices Benefit Implementation | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented |
| 25-008 | Narcotic Treatment Programs Regulation Changes | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-009 | Coverage of BH-CONNECT Evidence Based Practices | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup if they’ve opted in. |
| 25-010 | Updated: BHIN 25-010 Medi-Cal Peer Support Program Standards | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-011 | BH-CONNECT Demonstration Option to Receive Federal Financial Participation for Specialty Mental Health Services in Institutions for Mental Diseases. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-012 | Facility Referrals to the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment (CARE) Act Process. | Implemented | See CARE Act protocol |
| 25-013 | Supersedes BHIN 24-020. 2025 Network Certification Requirements for County Mental Health Plans (MHPs), Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Plans, Drug Medi-Cal (DMC) State Plan Counties, Integrated Behavioral Health Plans (IBHPs) and Integrated DMC Behavioral Health Delivery Systems (DMC-IBHDS) | Implemented | TADT changes fully implemented |
| 25-014 | Supersedes MHSUDS 18-010E. Mental Health Plan and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System Plan Grievance and Appeal Requirements with Revised Member Notice Templates | Implemented | NOABD language changes fully implemented |
| 25-015 | Supersedes BHIN 22-070. Parity Requirements for Drug Medi-Cal State Plan Counties | Implemented | NOABD language changes fully implemented |
| 25-016 | Behavioral Health Services Act Administrative Expenses Claiming and Reimbursement. Please email [email protected] for updated claim forms while they are still in the process of being published to the MedCCC Library. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-017 | Supersedes BHIN 24-022. Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Recovery or Treatment Facilities’ Licensure and Certification Fee Increase Beginning Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-2026 | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-018 | 25-018/ACL 25-12 Payer of Last Resort Requirements and Protocols for Family First Prevention Services Act Part I and the Family First Prevention Services Program. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-019 | Transgender, Gender Diverse, or Intersex Cultural Competency Training Program Requirements. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-020 | Adult and Youth Screening and Transition of Care Tools for Medi-Cal Mental Health Services. | Implemented | See protocol |
| 25-021 | Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) County Population | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-022 | Launch of Web-Based Mental Health Provider Forms. | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-023 | Supersedes BHIN 22-045. Enforcement Actions: Administrative and Monetary Sanctions and Contract Termination for Mental Health Plans (MHPs) and Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Plans. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-024 | Interim Regulations for Licensure of Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities. | Implemented | See protocol |
| 25-025 | Supersedes BHIN 24-026. Drug Medi-Cal Organized Delivery System (DMC-ODS) Treatment Perception Survey (TPS) | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-026 | Update to Provider Directory Requirements | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-027 | All County Letter No. 25-047 & BHIN No. 25-027; FAMILY FIRST PREVENTION SERVICES ACT PART IV AFTERCARE SERVICES UTILIZING CALIFORNIA’S HIGH FIDELITY WRAPAROUND MODEL | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-028 | Coverage of Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) Enhanced Community Health Worker (CHW) Services | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup if they’ve opted in. |
| 25-029 | Assembly Bill (AB) 2473 Alcohol or Other Drug (AOD) Counselor Educational Requirements | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-030 | Lanterman-Petris-Short (LPS) Act Quarterly Data Collection on Involuntary Treatment: Phase IV of Senate Bill 929 Implementation. | In Development | Currently finalizing implementation of Phase 4 requirements (BHIN 25-030). Phase 5 design is in progress (BHIN 26-003). |
| 25-031 | ACL 25-52/ BHIN 25-031 QI Policy Assessment Additional Guidance on Family First Preventin Service Act (FFPSA) and Requirements for the Qualified Individual (QI) | Implemented | CalMHSA will not be updating the QI Assessment in SmartCare. There aren’t many discrete data fields that would be pulled in from existing records, nor many to use in reporting. Therefore the effort of making the changes is not worth the result. |
| 25-032 | Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Annual Program Review | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-033 | Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) Annual Program Review | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-034 | Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) also referred to as Medications for Opiod Use Disorder (MOUD) Treatment for Incarcerated Patients | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-035 | Joint BHIN/ACL – POLICY CHANGES TO SUPPORT ALIGNED USE OF THE CANS TOOL BY COUNTY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PLANS, COUNTY CHILD WELFARE AGENCIES, AND JUVENILE PROBATION AGENCIES. | Implemented | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-036 | Traditional Health Care Practices Benefit Implementation. Supersedes BHIN 25-007 | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup. |
| 25-037 | BH-CONNECT Activity Funds Initiative | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-038 | Modifications to the Rate Methodology for Fee-for-Service Medi-Cal Contract (FFS/MC) Hospitals and Reporting Requirement Submissions. (12/4/25 – Updated enclosures) | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup. |
| 25-039 | Allocation of Funding for Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services, State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2025-26 Final Allocations | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-040 | Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Allocation and Methodology for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025-26 | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |
| 25-041 | The Community Transition In-Reach BHIN provides implementation guidance for Community Transition In-Reach Services under the Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) initiative. | Implemented | Billing setup has been fully implemented at the CalMHSA level. Counties need to create a Hubspot ticket for any additional help with county-specific setup. |
| 25-042 | Supersedes BHIN 24-034 effective February 1, 2026. 2026 Integrated Behavioral Health Member Handbook Requirements and Templates | No EHR Impact | County policy impact only |
| 25-044 | Supersedes BHIN 24-044. Enforcement Actions: Monetary Sanctions for Failure to Meet Minimum Performance Levels (MPLs) for Behavioral Health Quality Measures. | No EHR Impact | County fiscal impact only |