4. Behavioral Health Outcomes, Accountability, and Transparency Report (BHOATR)
A. Purpose of the Behavioral Health Outcomes, Accountability, and Transparency Report
The Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) requires counties[1] to submit Behavioral Health Outcomes, Accountability, and Transparency Reports (BHOATRs) to the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) on an annual basis. Whereas limited information is publicly available regarding the provision of services that are funded with federal grant programs and other county-administered behavioral health funding sources outside of Medi-Cal, the BHSA establishes the BHOATR to provide California with greater transparency into how counties spend behavioral health dollars and administer behavioral health care. Counties will use the BHOATR Template to report on implementation of the county Integrated Plan (IP) and the related annual and intermittent updates. Counties are required to report on behavioral health spending, service utilization, and achievement of goals and outcomes outlined for the reporting period. County boards of supervisors are required to attest that the BHOATR is complete and accurate before it is submitted to DHCS.[2] Additionally, in accordance with Welfare and Institutions (W&I) Code section 14197.71, subdivision (c)(2), county boards of supervisors are required to attest that the county is meeting its realignment obligations, including but not limited to time and distance standards and appointment time standards set forth in W&I Code section 14197.7 without utilizing waitlists, and will do so through the BHOATR.
DHCS will review county BHOATRs. After DHCS approves the county BHOATR, DHCS will develop a statewide BHOATR describing activities and opportunities in behavioral health delivery across California. DHCS will post each county’s BHOATR and an aggregated statewide BHOATR on the DHCS website.[3]
A.1 Reporting Period
The first BHOATR will cover fiscal year (FY) 2026-27. The due date for the first BHOATR will be January 30, 2029. Counties will submit a draft BHOATR for FY 2026-27 due January 30, 2028. This one-time draft submission will allow DHCS to provide technical assistance.
A.2 Required Contents
The BHOATR template will mirror the reporting requirements within the IP template. A detailed list of sections required for inclusion in the BHOATR template is forthcoming.
[1] W&I Code § 5963.04, subdivision (a)(1)
[2] W&I Code § 5963.04, subdivision (c)
[3] W&I Code § 5964.04, subdivision (d)