BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program: Submission 1 |
Introduction
In 2024, behavioral health plans (BHPs) completed a targeted self-assessment on National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Managed Behavioral Healthcare Organizations (MBHO) Standards related to care coordination (CC) and quality improvement (QI), as described in BHIN 24-019.
As part of the BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program, participating BHPs will be re-assessed annually on the below subset of NCQA MBHO Standards beginning in 2026. These six Standards were selected because they are closely tied to key DHCS priorities and goals for BHPs.
Participating BHPs can earn incentive funding by demonstrating annual improvement on these six Standards over the course of the Incentive Program (January 2025- December 2029). DHCS acknowledges there is significant work underway in each of these areas and is committed to supporting BHPs in closing their gaps related to these Standards and improving outcomes among Medi-Cal members living with significant behavioral health needs. In future years, if a BHP has fully met one of the above Standards, DHCS may identify an alternate Standard on which to assess the BHP. The BHP would have the opportunity to earn incentive funding for demonstrating improvement on that alternate Standard.
BHPs participating in the BH-CONNECT Incentive Program are eligible to earn an incentive payment by responding to the following questions by June 30, 2025. Up to $50 million in incentive funding is available across participating BHPs for Submission 1. Funding will be awarded only for timely and complete submissions; partial funding is not available for Submission 1.
These questions are intended to support BHPs in identifying key areas to strengthen care coordination and quality improvement activities, which will support improved performance on NCQA MBHO re-assessments and other BH-CONNECT Incentive Program measures. For any narrative responses in this submission, BHPs should consider their response in the context of the respective NCQA Standard; for example, if the narrative relates to CC-2, the BHP should consider the NCQA Standard as they write their response.
As part of the BH-CONNECT Access, Reform and Outcomes Incentive Program, participating BHPs will be re-assessed annually on the below subset of NCQA MBHO Standards beginning in 2026. These six Standards were selected because they are closely tied to key DHCS priorities and goals for BHPs.
| CC-1 | Coordination of Behavioral Healthcare |
| CC-2 | Collaboration Between Behavioral Healthcare and Medical Care |
| QI-3 | Availability of Practitioners and Providers |
| QI-8 | Complex Case Management |
| QI-9 | Clinical Practice Guidelines |
| QI-10 | Clinical Measurement Activities |
Participating BHPs can earn incentive funding by demonstrating annual improvement on these six Standards over the course of the Incentive Program (January 2025- December 2029). DHCS acknowledges there is significant work underway in each of these areas and is committed to supporting BHPs in closing their gaps related to these Standards and improving outcomes among Medi-Cal members living with significant behavioral health needs. In future years, if a BHP has fully met one of the above Standards, DHCS may identify an alternate Standard on which to assess the BHP. The BHP would have the opportunity to earn incentive funding for demonstrating improvement on that alternate Standard.
BHPs participating in the BH-CONNECT Incentive Program are eligible to earn an incentive payment by responding to the following questions by June 30, 2025. Up to $50 million in incentive funding is available across participating BHPs for Submission 1. Funding will be awarded only for timely and complete submissions; partial funding is not available for Submission 1.
These questions are intended to support BHPs in identifying key areas to strengthen care coordination and quality improvement activities, which will support improved performance on NCQA MBHO re-assessments and other BH-CONNECT Incentive Program measures. For any narrative responses in this submission, BHPs should consider their response in the context of the respective NCQA Standard; for example, if the narrative relates to CC-2, the BHP should consider the NCQA Standard as they write their response.