Module 4 - Behavioral Health Services Act County Policy Manual

Welcome to the BHSA [DRAFT] Policy Manual, Module 4, Version 0.4.0.

The feedback period is open from December 1, 2025 to December 19, 2025.
If you have trouble providing your comments, please reach out to BHTPolicyFeedback@dhcs.ca.gov.
You may notice gaps in section numbering—this is intentional and reflects the contents already finalized or still under review/finalization.

Note to Stakeholders

This release of the BHSA County Policy Manual for public comment includes proposed updates to the BHSA County Policy Manual. Specifically, DHCS is proposing updated text in:

• Chapter 3 – County Integrated Plan

  • Section E.3 Process for Requesting Exemptions

    • Section E.3.1 Eligible Exemptions

    • Section E.3.3 Acceptance Criteria

• Chapter 7 – BHSA Components and Requirements

  • Section A.7 Early Intervention Programs

    • Section A.7.6 Biennial List of Evidence-Based Practices and Community-Defined Best Practices

  • Section B. Full Service Partnership

    • Section B.3.4 Full Service Partnership Exemptions

    • Section B.6 Foundational Requirements for Full Service Partnership Evidence Based Practices

Updates to Chapters 3 and 7 are noted in bold underlined text for proposed new
text and bold, underlined, strikethrough text where DHCS proposes to remove text.
Chapter 9 – BHSA Oversight and Enforcement is entirely new.
Appendix E – Behavioral Health Services Act Biennial Early Intervention Evidence-Based Practices and Community-Defined Evidence-Based Practices List is entirely new.
Please note that bold hyperlinks point to sites outside of the BHSA County Policy Manual; non-bold hyperlinks point to other content in the BHSA County Policy Manual.