Medi-Cal: behavioral health treatment: stakeholder feedback.

Replaced the requirement for the department to convene a new stakeholder workgroup in Q1 2027 with a requirement to utilize existing stakeholder forums to seek feedback and offer comment opportunities on BHT coverage and billing policy.

Removed the requirement that the stakeholder workgroup meet no less than quarterly during 2027 and 2028, with public participation via comment or in writing.

Removed the specific January 1, 2028 deadline requiring the department to release and maintain clear clinical guidance for the BHT benefit consistent with federal recommendations. Replaced with a general ongoing requirement to maintain clear billing and coverage guidance informed by stakeholder feedback.

Removed the sunset provision that would have made the reporting requirement inoperative on January 1, 2033, along with the related Government Code Section 9795 compliance requirement.

Simplified the January 1, 2029 reporting requirement: removed the obligation to report to the Legislature (now only publish on website), removed the 'analysis since 2014' framing, and eliminated five detailed sub-questions about federal Medicaid alignment, clinical standards, documented functional impairments, supervision equivalency, and fingerprint-based background checks.

Minor drafting cleanup in subsection (b)(1): changed 'any provider of entity enrolled as a Medi-Cal provider' to 'any entity enrolled as a Medi-Cal provider.'

Background check obligation shifted from the department ensuring individual unlicensed BHT providers undergo fingerprint-based checks under Penal Code Section 11105.3, to requiring enrolled Medi-Cal provider entities to conduct (or have a third party conduct) state and national criminal background checks on employees who interact with patients per departmental guidance.

New documentation requirement: enrolled Medi-Cal providers must maintain records demonstrating compliance with the background check mandate and make them available to the department upon request or during state or federal audits.

New obligation for the department to maintain clear billing and coverage guidance for BHT services, consistent with federal EPSDT benefit requirements for individuals under 21, informed by stakeholder feedback.

The formal stakeholder workgroup (convened in Q1 2027 with specified membership) was replaced with a requirement to utilize existing stakeholder forums to seek feedback and offer comment opportunities. The department is now 'encouraged' rather than required to reach out to specific stakeholders.

New requirement that by January 1, 2029, the department publish on its website utilization data for BHT services and a synopsis of BHT coverage policy highlighting changes from stakeholder feedback.

The legislative report deadline (January 1, 2029) now explicitly includes publishing utilization data on the department's website in addition to reporting to the Legislature.

The background check requirement in subdivision (b) was restructured. Previously it required any individual providing BHT services without a state license to undergo a background check under Penal Code Section 11105.3. Now it requires the BHT provider (the organization) to conduct a state and national criminal background check on its employees who interact with patients, according to departmental guidance.

A new advisory topic was added in subdivision (d)(7): the workgroup shall advise on the feasibility of requiring fingerprint-based criminal background checks of BHT service providers.

A new consideration was added to the 2029 legislative report in subdivision (g)(5): whether any statutory changes are needed to require a fingerprint-based background check on BHT service providers.

A new workgroup member was added in subdivision (c)(6): the Department of Managed Health Care may be consulted or invited to the workgroup for purposes of coordination with the commercial market.

Background check information collection and retention guidance is now directed to 'employers of individuals providing BHT services' rather than just 'providers,' and the information is to be 'shared with' the department instead of being 'retained by' the department.

The stakeholder workgroup's BHT provider membership is expanded to explicitly include representatives of trade associations and licensing or certifying bodies in addition to individual providers.

The deadline for the department to release clinical guidance was cleaned up from a struck 'April' with inserted 'January 1, 2028' to simply 'January 1, 2028,' confirming the earlier date over the original April deadline.

The entire voter identification intent provision (former Section 2) was deleted. The bill no longer contains any language related to elections or voter ID requirements, making it a single-subject Medi-Cal bill.

Consumer advocate representation on the workgroup was broadened from organizations led by individuals with autism to also include organizations serving families of autistic children.

The deadline for the department to release and maintain clear clinical guidance for BHT services was moved up from April 1, 2028 to January 1, 2028, giving providers three fewer months of preparation time.

New language requires the department to specify to providers how background check information is to be collected and retained by the department prior to the July 1, 2027 compliance date.

Workgroup meeting frequency changed from 'shall meet quarterly' to 'shall meet no less than quarterly,' providing flexibility for additional meetings beyond the minimum four per year.

The stakeholder workgroup's BHT provider membership was expanded to explicitly include representatives of trade associations and licensing or certifying bodies in addition to individual providers.

Supervision requirements now cover 'unlicensed and uncertified professionals' rather than just 'unlicensed professionals,' potentially bringing a broader category of workers under oversight.

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now has fiscal implications requiring legislative fiscal analysis before passage.

Added an entirely new section (WIC 14132.561) governing Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services for individuals under 21, including background checks, a stakeholder workgroup, clinical guidance requirements, and a legislative report on program integrity.

Requires the Department of Health Care Services to ensure that any individual providing BHT services paid by Medi-Cal who does not hold a current California state license requiring a fingerprint-based background check must undergo a background check under Penal Code Section 11105.3, effective no later than July 1, 2027.

Requires the department to convene a stakeholder workgroup in Q1 2027 including BHT providers, providers of other services to children with autism, managed care plans, consumers with autism, and consumer advocates. The workgroup meets quarterly in 2027 and 2028 and must be open to the public.

The workgroup must advise on clinical guidelines for BHT services, treatment plan requirements (hours, documentation, outcome review), center-based vs. natural environment service requirements, supervision of unlicensed professionals, standardization of managed care plan documentation and credentialing, and best practices in quality care contracting.

Requires the department to release and maintain clear clinical guidance for BHT services by April 1, 2028, consistent with federal recommendations on BHT and Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment services.

The reporting requirement sunsets on January 1, 2033, pursuant to Government Code Section 10231.5.

Requires the department to report to the Legislature by January 1, 2029 on BHT utilization since 2014, changes made from workgroup input, and recommendations to ensure Medi-Cal reimbursement aligns with federal Medicaid program integrity requirements. The report must address whether services meet federal rehabilitative service standards, whether uniform evidence-based clinical standards are used, whether documented functional impairments and measurable goals exist, and whether supervision standards match comparable allied health professions.

Fiscal committee answer changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the amended bill now has fiscal implications requiring fiscal committee review.

Allows the department to implement the new section via all-county letters, plan letters, provider bulletins, or similar instructions without formal regulatory action, bypassing standard administrative law procedures under Government Code Chapter 3.5.