DATE:
March 11, 2025
15
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO TO OPT-IN TO THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZED NETWORKS OF EQUITABLE CARE AND TREATMENT (BH-CONNECT) INITIATIVE, EXECUTE RELATED AGREEMENTS, ACCEPT ADDITIONAL MEDI-CAL REVENUE, AND PURSUE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, AND REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES TO ISSUE FINAL GUIDANCE FOR BH-CONNECT (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
In December 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved a Section 1115 demonstration project submitted by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) entitled Behavioral Health Community-Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment (BH-CONNECT), which establishes a robust continuum of evidence-based community services for people with significant behavioral health needs. BH-CONNECT is comprised of a new five-year Medicaid section 1115 demonstration, State Plan Amendments to expand coverage of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs) available under Medi-Cal, and complementary guidance and policies to strengthen behavioral health services statewide.
By expanding community-based services and integrating EBPs, BH-CONNECT aims to reduce costly emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and institutional stays, including within carceral settings. The initiative will help Medi-Cal members with behavioral health conditions, including children and youth involved in child welfare, individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and people involved in the justice system.
BH-CONNECT aligns with the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Optimal Care Pathways (OCP) efforts by providing opportunities to improve quality of care, enhance service capacity, invest in the development and retention of the behavioral health workforce, and optimize new revenue opportunities to expand the continuum of community-based care....
Click here for full text