Behavioral Health Integration Incentive Program
Objective
The objective of the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Behavioral Health Integration (BHI) Incentive Program is to incentivize improvement of physical and behavioral health outcomes, care delivery efficiency, and patient experience by establishing or expanding fully integrated care in a Medi-Cal managed health care plan's (MCP) network.
Background
The BHI Incentive Program was set to implement on April 1, 2020. Due to COVID-19, the BHI Incentive Program was deferred to July 1, 2020. Then, as part of Proposition 56 adjustments proposed to the 2020 May Revise, the BHI program was put on hold. Per the Governor's 2020-21 Budget, the BHI Incentive Program was continued. Proposition 56 funding, along with federal funds, are used to make these payments. Policy change 242 identifies the use of the General Fund (GF) for these Proposition 56 funded payments. While AB 80 suspends these Proposition 56 payments on July 1, 2021, the Department assumes the continuation of the Proposition 56 Behavioral Health Incentive Program payments. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provides increased federal funding by increasing the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) by 6.2 percentage points for certain expenditures in Medicaid and by 4.34 percentage points for certain expenditures in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The FFCRA increased FMAP is effective January 1, 2020, and extends through the last day of the calendar quarter of the national public health emergency. National public health emergencies are effective for 90 days unless extended or terminated.
Program Implementation Timeline (Updated 06/09/22):
| Steps | Timeline |
| DHCS releases BHI Incentive Program Request for Applications | November 12, 2019 |
| DHCS conducts webinar | November 22, 2019 |
| BHI Incentive Program applications due to the MCPs | January 21, 2020 |
| MCPs review applications based on the standardized scoring tool | February 18, 2020 |
| DHCS conducts webinars | October & November 2020 |
| DHCS provides MCPs final determination letters | By December 1, 2020 |
| Completion of Program Readiness activities | By December 31, 2020 |
| BHI Incentive Program start date | January 1, 2021 |
| BHI Incentive Program operations duration | PY 1: January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021 PY 2: January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022
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Program Operations Duration
The BHI Incentive Program start date is January 1, 2021. The program period will be PY 1: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 and PY 2: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. MCPs will have two program years (equal to 24 months) for achievement of milestones and performance measures.
Application Addendum(s)
Providers and their partner MCPs should work together to revise applications and submit addendum(s) as needed.
Application Process (Closed 01/21/2020)
DHCS collaborated with MCPs to roll out a standard, statewide BHI Incentive Program application. Interested providers submitted application(s) to one MCP of their choice, per county. MCPs are responsible for oversight and payment to the provider for meeting the BHI Incentive Program milestones, based on their approved application.
Resources
Webinars
DHCS convened a webinar on Monday, December 21, 2020 at 3:30 p.m. Presentation is listed below.
DHCS
convened a webinar on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Presentation is listed below.
DHCS convened a webinar on Friday, October 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Presentation and guide resources are listed below.
DHCS convened a webinar on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 1:00 p.m. Presentation resources are listed below.
MCP Contact List
The local MCP contact list can be found here:
MCP Contact list
BHI Incentive Program Mailbox
