California DHCS Submitting Medicaid 1115 Demonstration To Strengthen Behavioral Health Continuum

The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is preparing to submit a Medicaid 1115 waiver to implement its Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT) demonstration. The waiver will request an effective date for the new program of January 1, 2025.

The proposed BH-CONNECT demonstration targets the following populations: Medi-Cal members living with serious mental illness (SMI) and serious emotional disturbance (SED), particularly populations experiencing disparities in behavioral health care and outcomes, such as children and youth with high needs, children and youth involved in the child welfare system, individuals and . . .