BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER IN CALIFORNIA

Fatumata Kaba
Jul 6
4 min read

SUPPORTING EMOTIONAL WELLNESS, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING THROUGH PERSON-CENTERED INTERVENTIONS

Behavioral Health Services in California provide assessment, therapy, and behavioral intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, or co-occurring disorders. These services are delivered through California Regional Centers, Managed Care Plans, the Self-Determination Program (SDP), and Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services under county Behavioral Health Departments.

1. GOVERNING AGENCIES

Agency: California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Role: Oversees behavior services through Regional Centers and the Self-Determination Program

Agency: California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)

Role: Manages Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Services through county behavioral health plans

Agency: Regional Centers (21 nonprofit centers statewide)

Role: Authorize behavior intervention services via the IPP and vendorize providers

Agency: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

Role: Provides federal oversight of HCBS waiver compliance and behavioral health parity

2. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE OVERVIEW

Behavioral Health Services address challenging behaviors and emotional well-being using evidence-based interventions tailored to the participant’s Individual Program Plan (IPP) or Person-Centered Plan (PCP).

Approved providers may deliver:

Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Individual and group counseling
Parent/caregiver training
Mental health assessments and treatment planning
Ongoing documentation and behavioral data tracking
Crisis planning and de-escalation support

Note: Services may be delivered under different funding streams depending on whether they are clinical (Medi-Cal/mental health) or habilitative (Regional Center/DD-focused).

3. LICENSING & PROVIDER APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

Prerequisites:

Register your business with the California Secretary of State
Obtain EIN from the IRS and NPI (Type 2)
Obtain appropriate licensure or certification for behavioral staff (e.g., BCBA, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, Psychologist)
Apply for vendorization through the Regional Center (e.g., Service Code 612 – Behavioral Intervention)
OR operate as an Independent Facilitator under SDP for non-vendorized access
If billing Medi-Cal, enroll through DHCS and partner with county behavioral health departments
Maintain liability insurance, supervision logs, and documentation systems

4. PROVIDER ENROLLMENT PROCESS

Path A: Regional Center Vendorization

Request vendor application for behavioral services (e.g., 612 or 605)
Submit resumes, credentials, sample BIPs, service structure, and documentation templates
Complete quality assurance review and receive vendor number

Path B: Medi-Cal Behavioral Health Enrollment (Specialty Mental Health Services)

Coordinate with your county’s Behavioral Health Plan
Submit license, staffing, and facility credentials
Contract for services such as therapy, psychiatric evaluations, or case management

Path C: Self-Determination Program

Complete DDS-approved Independent Facilitator or provider registration
Work under FMS agency to bill against the individual’s budget

5. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION

Articles of Incorporation or Fictitious Business Name (FBN)
IRS EIN Letter
NPI confirmation
Licensure or certification for clinical staff (BCBA, LMFT, etc.)
Liability and professional insurance
Policy & procedure manual including:
- Assessment tools and behavioral goal tracking
- BIP development templates and training protocols
- Confidentiality, consent, and participant rights policies
- Crisis and incident response procedures
- Clinical supervision and ongoing education logs
- Service logs, data sheets, and outcome summaries
- HIPAA compliance and documentation review processes

6. STAFFING REQUIREMENTS

Role: Clinical Supervisor / Behavior Analyst / Licensed Therapist

Requirements: BCBA, LMFT, LPCC, LCSW, Psychologist license or certification with behavioral intervention experience

Role: Behavior Technician / Support Staff

Requirements:

High school diploma or higher (some roles require RBT or associate’s degree)
Supervision by credentialed professional
Background clearance (Live Scan), TB test, and CPR certification

Training Requirements for All Staff:

Person-centered planning and behavior support strategies
HIPAA, documentation, and ethical service delivery
Crisis prevention and de-escalation
Annual CEUs or professional development hours

7. MEDICAID WAIVER SERVICES

Behavioral Health Services may be funded through:

1915(c) HCBS Waiver via Regional Centers (non-clinical behavior services)
Medi-Cal Specialty Mental Health Services (clinical)
Self-Determination Program (if included in PCP and budget)
EPSDT – for minors with behavioral health needs

Approved providers may deliver:

FBAs, BIPs, and habilitative behavior interventions
Psychotherapy, mental health treatment, and caregiver support
Crisis stabilization and data-driven progress monitoring
Service logs and ISP/IPP documentation

8. TIMELINE TO LAUNCH

Phase: Business Formation

Timeline: 1–2 weeks

Phase: Licensure and Regional Center Vendorization or Medi-Cal Enrollment

Timeline: 45–90 days

Phase: Staff Hiring and Supervision Plans

Timeline: 2–4 weeks

Phase: Referral Coordination and Service Activation

Timeline: Ongoing

9. CONTACT INFORMATION

California Department of Developmental Services (DDS)

Email: info@dds.ca.govWebsite: https://www.dds.ca.gov

California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) – Behavioral Health

Website: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/Pages/MentalHealthPrograms.aspx

Find Your Regional Center:

Website: https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/lookup

Self-Determination Program Resources

Website: https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp

WAIVER CONSULTING GROUP'S START-UP ASSISTANCE SERVICE — CALIFORNIA BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER

We support licensed clinicians and behavior specialists in launching compliant Behavioral Health Services under California’s Regional Center, Medi-Cal, and Self-Determination systems.

Scope of Work: